Tag: sin

One Mistake is One Too Many

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date August 8, 2013

Last week we talked about Moses’ mistake of hitting the rock instead of speaking to it. He did this in disobedience to what God told him to do. The Bible calls this sin.

As a result of Moses’ mistake, that is his sin, he was only permitted to see the land God promised to give to the people, but he could not enter into it.

This is a great illustration of the idea of following all the rules but one and then not getting into heaven because we’re not good enough.

We can’t earn our way into heaven, because just one “oops” removes that chance. Fortunately, the way to heaven is much easier; it’s called faith.

[Deuteronomy 32:51-52, Deuteronomy 34:4, James 2:10, and Ephesians 2:8-9]

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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Tags faith, heaven, Moses, sin

Bible Insights

It’s Not My Fault

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 18, 2013

We live in a society of blame. People shun taking responsibility for their mistakes and shortcomings.

Instead they blame someone else: “It’s how I was raised,” “He talked me into it,” “It’s her fault not mine,” “If only I had a better education,” “I had no choice,” and so forth.

In doing so, they fail to take responsibility for their own actions. They attempt to pass their error onto someone or something else and thereby avoid God’s censure for their sin.

In God’s perspective, that’s not how things work. Each person is responsible for the things he or she does. Through Moses, God said that each person would die for his or her sin, not the parents but them.

Fortunately, Jesus offers a different solution: Saving people from their sin.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Deuteronomy 16-18, Matthew 1-4, and today’s post is on Deuteronomy 24:16 and Matthew 1:21]

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Tags blame, Jesus, sin

Bible Insights

Who Needs a Doctor?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 30, 2012

In the accounts of Jesus’ life, there’s a curious exchange he has with the religious leaders. Although he has many such interactions, this is perhaps the most perplexing.

He tells them healthy people don’t need a doctor. True. Then he makes a parallel assertion that his purpose isn’t to help good people (the “righteous”) but bad people (the “sinners”).

What does this mean?

Is he implying the religious leaders are healthy and in no need of his help, that they’re doing fine by adhering to their traditions?

While it’s true that following their laws could be sufficient, they would need to do so perfectly. This is humanly impossible.

This could be a sarcastic statement, calling them good (righteous) when everyone—including themselves—knew it wasn’t true, that they fell short of God’s standard as well.

Jesus could have meant, that since the religious leaders considered themselves to be healthy, there was nothing he could do for them. Although they were really sick, he couldn’t be their doctor until they admitted they were ill.

We all need a doctor, but are we willing to admit it?

[Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31-32]

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Tags heal, Jesus, righteous, sin

Christian Living

Three Things to Know About Sin

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 18, 2012

The book of Genesis in the Bible gives a concise three-point teaching about sin. This was written about Cain, but equally applies to us.

1. Sin Is Crouching at Our Door

The word “crouch” reminds me of a cat getting ready to pounce on its prey. The situation is ominous.

2. Sin Desires to Have Us

Once the cat leaps for its quarry, there’s little doubt over the outcome. Sin is crouching for us; it is getting ready to leap and destroy us. There’s little we can do—or is there?

3. We Must Master It

Sin is much easier to master beforehand rather than in the midst of it. When it is crouching, the potential for sin is there, but it’s not actual sin; it’s temptation.

We know what to do with temptation and the devil who promotes it. We are to resist.

[Genesis 4:7, James 4:7]

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Tags Genesis, sin, temptation

Bible Insights

What Does Jesus Want Us to Forgive?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 4, 2012

In my post Be Careful What You Pray I mention a line in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Different groups have different wording for this line. There are some I’ve run into:

Debts

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” The word debt, conjures up thoughts of loans and money. That limits what Jesus meant and isn’t helpful.

Trespasses

“Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The word trespass evokes walking uninvited on someone6s property.

That’s not helpful either. (However, the dictionary gives a broader understanding for both these words.)

Sins

“Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” To me, sin is the word that conveys the full impact of this phrase, but I understand some people are put off by that word.

Wrongs

I recently heard a fourth version, which I like for its clarity:

“Forgive us for the wrongs we have done, as we have forgiven those who have wronged us.”

That connects with me. I hope one of these four versions connects with you. Now we just need to pray it—and do it.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Matthew 5-7, and today’s post is on Matthew 6:12.]

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Tags debt, forgiveness, Lord’s Prayer, sin

Bible Insights

Do You Need a Doctor?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date June 7, 2012

Jesus said, “It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus came for the sick. (Since he came to heal and to save, we may be able to comprehend this both literally and figuratively, that is, the physically sick and the spiritually sick.)

Jesus came for sinners—those who miss the mark.

Conversely, Jesus did not come for the healthy, the righteous. What exactly does that mean? Perhaps:

People who are righteous (good and law-abiding) don’t need Jesus. (Is Jesus implying their path is through the Old Testament covenant and following the Law of Moses?)
People who think they are on the right track will never know they need Jesus, so he is dismissing them.
Everyone needs Jesus, but some people delude themselves, thinking they are the exception.

None of these ideas is an adequate explanation for me of what this text means. Although the first one seems heretical, it is also the most direct understanding of Jesus’ actual words.

The other two responses require an interjection of ideas, some assumptions to be made—of basically reading the text through our own theological glasses.

Fortunately, I don’t need to understand this text completely. What I do know is I need a doctor—and his name is Jesus.

[Mark 2:17, Matthew 9:12-13, and Luke 5:31-32]

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Tags heal, Jesus, righteous, salvation, sin

Christian Living

Not Doing What I Want to Do

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 15, 2012

My typical day is divided between three activities: writing, job, and personal (which includes work around the house and leisure pursuits). To make matters more complicated, each of these three tasks takes place at home.

Sometimes I am self-disciplined enough to attend to each undertaking in its apportioned time, but not always.

I too often find myself wanting to do work when I should be writing, wanting to do household projects when I should be working, and wanting to write or work when it is time for household tasks. (And leisure activities always tugs on my time.)

Given this, some might label me a malcontent or simply bad at time management, but I resist those assessments.

To me my malady is merely human nature. And given my assessment that all things are spiritual, this becomes a spiritual issue.

Succinctly, will I use the time God has given me to its widest and fullest potential or will I squander it with undisciplined disdain?

My dilemma reminds me in something that the Apostle Paul said. In writing to the people in Rome, he agonizes over a similar quandary, noting that he doesn’t do what he wants to do and does do what he doesn’t want to do.

His answer to this struggle is simple: Jesus.

[Romans 7:15-25]

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Tags Jesus, Paul, sin

Reviews of Books & Movies

Video Review: The Last Sin Eater

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date July 1, 2009

Reviewed by Peter DeHaan

Historically, a “sin eater” is one who ritualistically takes upon himself the sins of a dead person in order to provide absolution.

The movie The Last Sin Eater considers this custom in Appalachia circa 1850 amongst a backdrop of superstition and secrets.

Although slow starting, those who don’t give up on the film will be rewarded with an intriguing plot line and mystery that goes deeper than the soon evident connection of a human sin eater to the ultimate sin eater, Jesus.

As the movie progresses, a secret past is unveiled piece by piece until a completed puzzle satisfactorily emerges.

The Last Sin Eater is based on the book of the same name, written by Francine Rivers; the movie was produced by Michael Landon Jr.

[Read more reviews by Peter DeHaan of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]

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Tags Jesus, mystery, sin