Saved From What?

I sat in a church worship service almost every Sunday of my life from birth to college. I heard the Bible read and learned the stories that were taught in Sunday School. I went to Vacation Bible School, was in the choirs and Christmas pageants. In all of that I never learned or understood that I was separated from God because of my sin.

Sometimes I wonder if I heard it and dismissed it or if I never heard it. No one wanted to offend anyone with the thought of sin – even children who didn’t know Christ as Savior were too precious to bother with God’s revealed hatred of it.

When the Lord did get my attention it was first of all showing me that He was real and listening as I prayed. What He revealed through answers to my prayers was my sin. That was 16 or 17 years ago.

As I have been attending church and listening to recorded sermons this Christmas I have really been thinking about the verse in Luke 1 that tells us about the angel that spoke to Mary saying, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” In Matthew we have the added information that she would name Him Jesus because He would save His people from their sin. (Matthew 1:21) Several times this Christmas season I have heard people sharing the gospel, the truth that Jesus came to save people, individually, from their sin. “Trust in Jesus” was a repeated theme.

From very early in the Bible we see this idea of God being and sending a Savior for His people. 2 Samuel, Isaiah, and the Psalms all refer to God as Savior. Sometimes God was saving them from enemies and sometimes from judgment on their rebellion against Him – otherwise known as sin.

Because I was (and sadly still show signs of) a proud person I am afraid that we are stopping short of the whole gospel. Until a person recognizes their sin they will see no need for a Savior. Jesus came as a baby in a manger and Shepherds and Magi came to see Him and worship Him. We know they understood the prophecies that a baby would be born in Bethlehem and that He would be the son of a virgin. I am not at all sure that they knew He came to save them from their sin. They were living under men like Herod who was willing to kill all boys in Bethlehem under the age of two rather than bear the threat to his throne. They were looking for a King who would save them politically.

Does the current population of Americans know that Jesus came to save them from their sins? I had heard these words but because, in my pride, I didn’t see myself as a sinner, I didn’t think it applied to me. I assumed God would have me in heaven because I was such a good person.

I don’t think that in a world where we applaud everything a child does, that I am the only one with this “good person” problem. Most of our culture thinks that if they haven’t murdered anyone or robbed a bank that they are not sinners. The Word of God differs, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Somewhere in our culture real truth has been lost. We no longer think that our “little white lies” bother God. We think that doing to others as we would have them do unto us means that we have to “get them before they get us.” We don’t worry about a little deception to the IRS or harsh treatment of a spouse or children as violating God’s laws. Lots of Americans give to the poor so they can receive recognition for it (and God says that’s all the reward that person will receive) or to take it as a deduction on their taxes.

The hard truth about this is that God says that death is the penalty for sin. This includes spending eternity in hell. We have to die for our sin or we have to believe in our hearts that Jesus was sent by God to take that penalty for us if we are to receive eternal life in heaven. We cannot escape sin – all have participated – all are guilty. But, we have a choice about the penalty, we can pay it or we can humbly admit to God that we see our sin and ask Jesus to pay for it and be grateful that He promises to answer this prayer for the sincerely repentant sinner.

I am afraid that in the gospel invitations I have heard over the last few weeks, this point about sin has been glossed over, mentioned but not explained for the person who is now as proud and blind as I was until someone pointed my sin out – bluntly- in a sermon. I heard it but I didn’t believe it. I asked God to show me if it was true and He did.

Christmas has just passed. You have heard the retelling of how John the Baptist, when He saw Jesus approaching him, said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Do you believe it? Do you believe that you are a sinner and that Jesus can take them away? I know from experience that if you ask God to show you your sin and the truth of your character and standing before Him, that He will show you. Then, just as He promised, the Savior, the One who was sent to save us from our sin, will save you from yours, too.

Salvation from sin, if you don’t already know it, would be a great start to a New Year!