I WAS NOT SEPARATED FROM GOD BECAUSE OF THE SINS I COMMITTED.
I WAS SEPARATED FROM GOD BECAUSE OF MY SIN NATURE.
I think maybe we, the church, need to re-evaluate some of our word usage or maybe our theology. As we are approaching the Feast of Passover (which is not Easter), whereby we celebrate the work of the cross there is a lot of talk about Christ going to the cross because we sin and do wrong.
QUESTION FOR TODAY: Am I a sinner because I sin OR do I sin because I am a sinner? If the first statement is correct "Am I a sinner because I sin" then there was a time that I was not a sinner and at some point of my life I became one. This is fundamentally and theologically incorrect. I was conceived in iniquity. I was born with the sin nature. No one had to teach me how to sin, it was the natural thing to do.
The second statement is correct. "I sin because I am a sinner." I was born a sinner. It is not WHAT I do, it is WHO I am. It is my status and position because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve.
Why is this important? Because my Jesus did not die just so I can be forgiven each day of my sins. He died so that my Adamic nature would be put to death and a new race would come forth. That new race is the first-fruits of the Last Adam (Jesus Christ). He did more then just forgive my sins, He eradicated my sin nature and gave me a new nature. He removed the corruptible seed and placed within me an incorruptible seed. I have the very nature of God within me.
Thank God that our sins are forgiven...however we need to move beyond that to the fact that we no longer have a sin nature. It is not natural for us to sin. We now have the righteousness of Christ within us. So walk in it.