Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."¹

What is sin and why does God hate it?

Someone has argued if God is the creator of all things then he must have created sin. Actually, sin, as another has suggested is not a "created" thing at all. It is an action on our part or a failure to act as we know we ought to act or behave. God created people but he didn't create sin or sinners. Sinners are people who have chosen to go their own way rather than God's way. It's the same with evil. It is the evil actions of people who have chosen to do evil things that make them evil.

In the Bible there are three facets to sin. First has to do with breaking God's laws that are found in his Word, the Bible. Second applies to rebelling against God and going one's own sinful way. And third has to do with falling short of God's standard of perfection; that is, being less than whole and all that God envisioned for us to be. The latter also includes sins of omissionâ€"not doing what we know we should doâ€"as well as sins of commission.

And why does God hate sin so vehemently? Because it destroys those whom God lovesâ€"us. It causes us to be spiritually dead, and separates us from the God who created and loves us, and dooms us to a lost eternity in the place the Bible calls hellâ€"whatever and wherever that may be.

While sin totally destroys those whom God loves, his mercy and love have provided a way of escape from sin's destructive consequences for all who put their trust in him and become a true Christ follower or Christian. For help to be sure you are a real Christian go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to understand the totality of sin, its devastating consequences, and why You hate and despise it. Help me also to understand Your plan of salvation and deliverance from sin's dreadful consequences through Jesus Christ, and be absolutely sure that I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and have received Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Romans 6:23 (NIV).

<:))))><

2. To Know God and be sure you're a real
    Christian click on:

3. Donate: To help send Daily Encounter
    without charge to people around the world
    click on:

4. To send today's Daily Encounter to a friend
    click on:

5. To share your faith in a simple, attractive
    way with a friend click on:

6. For today's featured article click on:

7. This week's chuckle as seen "On the Lighter
    Side"  on Weekend Encounter click on:

8. Change Address of your subscription to
    Daily Encounter click on: