Sin.
Missing the Mark
There is no popular way to tackle the topic of sin.
In fact, I wont attempt to make what sin is, the cost of it, and how reality as we know it is contorted because of sin easy to digest, because it shouldn't be.
What is sin? Sin comes from the Greek word 'hamartia' which means "to miss the mark."
What does missing the mark mean for us?
Well, to put it simply, missing the mark is absolute- as God's law is absolute.
The translation of sin from the Greek word hamartia was used in relation to archers attempting to hit the center of a target with their arrow.
An arrow either hits the mark perfectly in the center, or it doesn't- this is an example of absolute. If an arrow misses its mark by miles or even a few inches, it does not change the fact that it did not hit the center of the target perfectly.
This is the same with sin.
We either follow God's laws perfectly- we either hit the center of the mark perfectly- or we don't.
Being way off or slightly off center of a target is not sufficient for an archer to win a tournament. An archer either has perfect aim and form, resulting in perfect execution of launching an arrow to the center of his target, or he does not. If an archer launches his arrow from his bow and misses, his perfect aim and form wont count, for the simple fact that his follow through of hitting the mark fell short.
Comparatively, our 'good intentions' to not sin does not negate the fact that we have sinned.
Lets take this analogy a step further.
What if the target for the archer was placed a foot away from him. He would be able to use his perfect aim and form to hit the target dead center.
But, what if the tournament wasn't over at that moment? What if the next target was a mile away? And the one after that were across the country? What if the target after that one was placed someplace dark and therefore wasn't visible?
The archer may have had one victory in hitting the mark when it was a foot away, but the tournament he's in is dependent on hitting his mark perfectly, every time.
Hitting those targets perfectly everytime is clearly impossible- the archer will lose the tournament.
Now, why is this very long analogy of missing the mark relevant?
This analogy is relevant because we need to understand that the odds are stacked against us when it comes to sin.
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Our bodies are His, not our own, we've been bought with a price." - (Genesis 1:27)
Like Parent, Like Children
Because Adam and Eve gave into temptation by the serpent in the Garden of Eden, we have sin in ourselves and in the world. Through Eve questioning God's law by listening to the serpents tempation: "Did God really say...?" the first mark was missed.
By Eve listening to the deceit of the serpent, who lied to her saying eating the fruit would make her knowledgeable like God, the second mark was missed when she bit into the fruit and then gave some to Adam. Adam missed the mark by listening to Eve, instead of God's instruction. Finally, the last mark was missed immediately after when they heard God searching for them and hid themselves from Him out of shame because they now knew they were naked.
Giving into temptation, questioning Gods authority, desire to become God, and hiding from God out of shame from disobeying Him birthed evil in the world- causing the harmonious relationship between man and God to be corrupt. Deceit and temptation resulting in Original Sin not only corrupted humanity's relationship with God, but it also corrupted God's perfect design for Creation. God's perfect design is illustrated in Genesis, of life in the Garden with Him.
Here is a chart to reference when you feel tempted, and want to resist tempation.
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Adam and Eve are our original lineage, and the Original Sin brought forth by these parents have perverted and pervaded the world and us.
We are doomed to miss the mark in life no matter what, because sin is our fleshly nature.
We inherited sin because of what Adam and Eve did; their direct disobedience of God, and lack of faith that God only wanted what was good for them.
Their sin is the cause of our sinful and rebellious nature. Their sin is the cause of the corruption of nature, resulting in a broken world.
Whether we know it or not, and whether we want to or not, we sin.
Sin is chaos, whereas God is perfect order.
Remember: God cannot sin, cannot be tempted, and cannot lie.
Humans are created in Gods perfect image, and living in righteousness and holiness was meant to be a testament of His perfection.
When we sin, we go against our true nature and identity in Him, and He rejects it-- since sin is not His nature but that of a broken human nature.
Like I said, the odds are stacked against us.
So, what are the effects of sin on our spirit, mind, will, and emotions?
Well, lets break it down.
A Price Too High
The cost of sin is: guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, worry, irrational fear, compulsions, obsession, mental illness, mental health deficiency, isolation, ostracization, loneliness, apathy, bitterness, jadedness, hatred, envy, jealousy, pain, desperation, brokenness, hopelessness, futility, and more importantly--feeling separate from God and being separate from God.
Spiritual death is death. Biblically, spiritual death is as true as, as real as and can result in physical death.
All these effects or costs of sin can also lead to an array of issues resulting in the damage of the healthy ego, broken relationships, poor self-image, and skewed perceptions of life.
These issues lead to unfortunate behaviors, patterns, addictions and more, which leave one in a neverending cycle of desparation. Attempting to stop feeling negative emotions and thinking unwanted thoughts singlehandedly, often leads to destructive behavior- and thus the snake continues eating its own tail.
In this vulnerable state, spiritual and psychological doors are left open to be further deceived by the enemy, who will continue to deceive by suggesting: “You can become like God (and fix yourself)” and by tempting: "Did God really say that (fill in the blank) is wrong?"
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."- (Romans 3:23)
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." - (Proverbs 14:12)
Much of what we do is informed by our past, our perceptions, and our belief systems.
Unfortunately, trying to save ourselves from our past, attempting to "correct" our perceptions, and striving to understand the cause of our beliefs wont get us out of paying the cost of sin.
Feeling shame wont cover the cost of sin, and believing sin doesn't exist wont deliver us from judgement.
"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."- (James 4:17)
The Debt is Paid
So, what can we do about sin? Absolutely nothing. We are sinners, full stop. Sin exists in us and in the world because of what Adam and Eve did in the Garden, full stop.
However, what Adam and Eve did in the Garden could not, cannot and will not take away what Jesus did on the cross.
Rejoice! We have a Savior, and His name is Jesus.
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." - (1 Peter 2:24)
Here's the thing: Gods laws are absolute and we will miss the mark of following them every time because it is in our human nature to do so.
Here's some relieving news: God did not create us according to our limited humanity, He created us in HIS image.
Gods perfect laws aren't what they are to taunt us, to consider us losers or to hope that we fail.
God's laws are perfect because HE is perfect.
He is holy, righteous, fair and more importantly- God cannot be tempted, deceive, or sin.
We are to live according to His will and perfect law because we are created in His perfect image. Since He cannot lie, steal, be tempted or sin, we are not to either as His beloved image bearers.
Again, it is clear that the cost of what was done in the Garden poured out into the rest of humanity, causing our brokenness and thus our inability to reach and mantain perfection.
But, when Jesus lived perfectly, followed Gods laws perfectly, then died on the cross--taking the punishment for sin which we deserved-- our sins died with Him forevermore when His Spirit poured out into us.
A New Creation
Jesus' death restored us to the clean, beautiful creation God intended; we were made new.
God knows we cannot hit His perfect mark.
Yet, He loves us so much and wants so much to have a close relationship with us (which sin prevents) that He sent His only Son to cover the cost for sin on our behalf.
What Jesus did on the cross closed the gap between humanity's sinful nature and God.
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." - (Romans 3:24)
When we have faith in Jesus and declare His reign as King of the universe, the Prince of Peace and having conquered sin and death once and for all when He rose from the grave, we receive salvation through faith, by grace.
We become baptized by the Holy Spirit and made into a new creation when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior; the One who is savior because He came from His throne in Heaven to cover the cost none of us could pay. He came to hit the mark perfectly for us, out of deep love and immovable grace.
Practicing Faith
With my clients I help identify and breakdown the areas of their life where sin is manifesting itself most, through scripture we pull out the root, and by clear instruction of who Jesus is and what He did on the cross we plant the seed of faith in that area, in order for the Holy Spirit to start the process of salvation. By using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy frameworks to help identify persistent thoughts, beliefs and emotions resulting in unwanted behavior, we work on rewiring the neural pathways which get triggered after an emotional response so that behaviors can be understood and shifted.
With Christian Counseling including Faith Therapy and CBT, I utilize a two-fold strategy (rooted in scripture) in order to replace focus on sin, unwanted behavior, and compulsive focus of sin to abiding focus on Jesus.
The Fresh Start
My friend, we all sin, because we're all sinners. It is what it is. But its not what we can or cannot do about it that matters, but what has already been done.
Jesus already paid the price for our sin. Jesus already took the punishment for disobedience to God which we deserved. Jesus already felt the suffering, pain, and despair of what sin means for the human body. Jesus already paid the ultimate cost for sin by dying on the cross.
Jesus also proved that sin and death have no hold over Him when He rose again the third day.
Our sin- all of it- has been paid in full.
We have been provided with a clean slate to enter a relationship with God by the shedding of His only Son’s blood.
The sacrifice of the Lamb, the second Adam, is the Archer humanity needs.
He is worthy of our praise and deserves all the glory anytime we have a victory over sin.
So long as we are taking actions moving us closer to a relationship with Jesus, we are hitting our new mark.
A reationship with Jesus is what our focus should be on. Our focus is not to be on sin, feeling guilt or shame for sin, or feeling inadequate to receive Gods love-- it wont help.
Learning to have intimacy with the One who is perfect, who followed Gods laws perfectly, and who teaches us how to do the same is what we are called to do.
By Jesus' victory, He declared that having a relationship with Him is our new target.
My friend, the good news is you are not perfect and you don't have to be. One came before you who is perfect, and by His blood, you are made new and free to enjoy the supernatural love of God.
Amen.
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - (Isaiah 43 18-19)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come! The old has gone, the new is here!"- (2 Cornithians 5:17)
Hello friend! Would you like to give your life to Jesus today? If so- congratulations! Go ahead and say this Salvation Prayer aloud and get ready for your life to change remarkably— forever.
Thalia Longchamp is a Christian Counselor and CBT Practitoner in New York, NY specializing in grounding any overwhelming emotional, psychological, and spiritual experiences for her clients. Her office is located in Manhattan
