"Sin is Lawlessness" | Eastside church of Christ

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is a violation of God’s law. When we do things that are contrary to God’s law, or do things that have not been authorized by God in His word, we sin. All of us have committed sin by violating God’s law (Romans 3:23). Paul said, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We deserve punishment for our sin. But thanks be to God that through Christ we can be saved if we will believe and obey Him (Romans 5:1; Hebrews 5:9; Mark 16:16). The Lord is willing to save us despite our sins, but He does not want us to be content in our sin. Jesus said, “You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). On different occasions He told people to “not sin anymore” (John 5:14; 8:11). The apostle John wrote to Christians to encourage them to “not sin” (1 John 2:1). We should continually work to put sin and keep sin out of our lives. How do we work to overcome sin in our lives? If sin is lawlessness, then we must learn what God’s law requires of us so we can do what He has said to do and avoid what He has said is wrong. Being “approved to God” requires us to learn how to “accurately [handle] the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We must be like the psalmist who said, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Those who “practice lawlessness” will be lost (Matthew 7:23). Let us be diligent to put away sin from our lives (Romans 6:11-12) and do the will of God (Matthew 7:21) so that we might be able to look forward to a home in heaven with Him. –Andy Sochor