The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6, 23.
Various answers will be given to this question. One person will say, “Sin? We take no notice of it nowadays. Both the concept and the word describing it are obsolete. We only talk about offences against the law or human rights.”
Another will say, “Sin? By that I understand serious crimes like murder, robbery, child abuse, and the like. Fortunately I haven’t such things on my conscience.
Yet another will maintain, “Sin? We no longer judge it as seriously as formerly. The days of hypocritical prudishness are over. Having more freedom can’t be so bad, can it?”
In the final instance it is not a matter of what I think. Only One can determine what is sin: “God, the Judge of all” (Hebrews 12, 23). He has done so unambiguously in His Word, the Bible, by means of specific commandments. Whoever deliberately disregards them will one day be judged and condemned by Him.
God, however, also testified through His Word that He is merciful and gracious. He is prepared to forgive sins. Just who can be forgiven? Only the best, who are least guilty? Certainly not! Forgiveness is available for all without exception, on one condition: “Whoever confesses and forsakes them (i.e. his sins) will have mercy” (Proverbs 28, 13).
The gift of God’s grace that today’s text mentions is granted to all who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1, 9).