The Truth About Sin

"When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me'. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" ~ James 1:13-15

In these three verses in the earliest New Testament letter that was written, Jesus' half-brother James announces the truth about sin - where it comes from, how it increases, and the end result of it. Yet, so many believers still today treat sin as either a minor threat or worse, a close friend they don't want to lose. There are those who aim to manipulate Scripture so that it seemingly agrees with their wickedness, those who pretend that they can dabble in godlessness a little bit without going too far, and those who think they won't actually face any consequences for their actions. Still others believe that since Jesus has died for them, they can choose sin now and still make it into heaven. The Bible, however, instructs us to do whatever it takes to keep from sinning, to confess when we already have, and to repent and make every effort not to repeat it. So why have so many in the Church become so comfortable with their sin? This week at Friendship, we'll take a fresh look at "The Truth About Sin", and hopefully be encouraged and motivated to confess, repent, and guard against it. We'll address behavioral choices that invite sin into our lives, how we must respond to the sins of others in the Church, and whether certain sins hold greater weight than others. If you've wondered about these questions, join us as we dig into more mysteries of God!