The Problem of Consistent Sin



1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

These words from Paul come down with harsh judgment for those who would flaunt their sin and rich grace for those who would trust in Jesus as their Savior. Three short verses bring the Law and Gospel into sharp view. But let me just say – it’s a bummer to write about because the current climate in our culture tolerates none of this conversation.

Let’s be honest; we all have our pet sins. We all hope God looks the other way as we indulge the flesh in ways that are inconsistent with a life of faith and trust in Jesus. Of course, He doesn’t relinquish His holiness so that we can play fast and loose with the ways of God. He still calls sin, well, sin. All of it separates us from His righteous presence. And, because the Holy Spirit does His job, we find ourselves in a place of repentance over those sins, even if it is over and over again. Jesus’ blood still covers those pet sins. But – there are some who want their sinful lifestyles to be rubber stamped as “just fine with God”. Apparently it is okay with them to set aside some of God’s Laws and indulge their sinful desires. “God made me this way, so it’s okay.” That’s never going to fly.

Paul speaks to the Galatians about this attitude with a dire warning.

Galatians 6:7-8
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

So the text is pretty straight forward. Sin is devastating, and God doesn’t just brush aside our attempts at self-justification with a “that’s okay”. No, He will never rubber stamp our sin as “okay”. Lest we despair, Paul fills in our pit of sin with the grace of Jesus Christ. “BUT you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The Gospel comes in and deals with our sorrow.

And there it is. Do we experience any sorrow over those favorite sins? Are we asking God to approve of our iniquity or asking Him to forgive it, for there is a big difference there. One acknowledges our need for Savior and the other asks God to just set aside His holiness and let us keep indulging the flesh. He has provided His own dear Son to forgive our sins – all of them – and so His holiness has been fulfilled. May we look to Him and repent of that which He calls win and bow instead at the foot of the cross, receiving what only Jesus can provide - our forgiveness.

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