sin

How to Have a Perfectly Good Conscience

October 19, 2022 // 9 Comments

Many people struggle with guilt on a daily basis. They feel guilty for not spending more time with their kids and for not calling their parents. They feel guilty for working too hard, not working hard enough, and not working at all. They feel guilty for getting up too late, giving into cravings, taking meds, not [...]

Do Christians have a Sinful Nature?

October 6, 2022 // 41 Comments

Ever heard the one about how you have two natures wrestling inside you and the one that dominates is the one you feed the most? It’s not true. Christian, you do not have a sinful nature. One with the Lord, you have a new heart and a new mind with new desires (1 Cor. 2:16). As a new creation, you get to share in [...]

Two Lies About Sin

June 2, 2022 // 6 Comments

The worst disease to ever afflict the human race is not Covid or cancer, but sin. Sin is not merely breaking the rules or acting immorally. Sin is much more serious than that. God offers us his divine life but we fall short. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). The gap between [...]

What is the Sin Leading to Death?

May 12, 2022 // 16 Comments

There are different types of sin, and some more serious than others. Apparently we should pray for those who do the lighter sins, but not waste time praying for those who do the bad ones. Ever heard that? It comes from this verse: If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and [...]

What is the Biblical Definition of Sin?

April 29, 2022 // 62 Comments

What is sin? Some define sin as transgression of God’s law. “We need to keep the law because ‘sin is lawlessness’” (see 1 John 3:4). Okay, but which law? “We have to keep all of the commands.” Including the ones about not wearing poly-blend clothing or eating bacon? “Well, not those ones. But at [...]

Does Sin Hinder our Prayers?

November 18, 2021 // 87 Comments

Ever heard this one: “God is holy. If you have unconfessed sin in your life, he will not hear your prayers.” It’s. Not. True. If sin made God deaf, no sinner could be saved. They would pray the sinner’s prayer, but God wouldn’t hear them. Pray all you like, but I’m not listening. Lalalala. I’ve got [...]

5 Myths about God’s Forgiveness

July 2, 2021 // 48 Comments

No religion preaches the complete forgiveness of sins like Christianity. You might say it’s one of our unique selling points. So why do we do such a bad job with it? We tell people God may forgive them if they say the right words and keep on the straight and narrow, and then we try and pass off this awful [...]

Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

June 22, 2017 // 87 Comments

Here is a conversation I have on a regular basis: Reader: “Paul, I’m worried that I have committed the unforgivable sin.” Me: “You haven’t.” Reader: “But I had these terrible thoughts about the Lord…” Me: “You didn’t commit an unforgivable sin. Jesus carried all our sin on the cross – [...]

Does God Love Me When I Sin?

April 27, 2017 // 76 Comments

I heard a pastor of a large church tell his congregation, “God hates you, God is sick of you, God is frustrated with you, God is weary of you.” And why is God in such a dark mood? Because of our sin and apathy. Jesus went through hell for us, but we can’t even show up to church on time. I wish sermons like [...]

Does the Hypergrace Gospel Encourage Sin?

March 16, 2017 // 44 Comments

Preach the scandalous grace of God and some will misinterpret your message as an endorsement of sin. It’s practically inevitable. But those who dismiss grace as a license to sin merely show their ignorance of it. As John Calvin may have said, “How can the medicine that’s supposed to kill the disease (grace) [...]

The Sinless Life?

October 27, 2016 // 106 Comments

When the Holy Spirit came into your life the change in you was like night and day. It’s like you were given a heart transplant. Your old heart, which was captive to desires of the flesh and enslaved to sin, was replaced with a new heart with new desires and appetites. Your new heart beats with new passions and [...]

Examine Yourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5)

January 15, 2016 // 92 Comments

In my city every car has to pass an annual road-worthiness test. As a poor student with a cheap car, I used to dread this test. Would the inspector say something about my dodgy brakes, the missing tail-light, or the cloud of black smoke coming out of the tailpipe? Would my car fail the test and be taken off the [...]