The consequences of sin are grave. Sin impacts our relationships. It hurts us, causes us to face consequences we never expected, and so much more. What we do not often think about when we choose to give in to sin is that we are not just sinning against other people or, in some cases, ourselves; we are sinning against God. Make no mistake: when we sin, our sin breaks His heart. As a result, we must take our sins seriously.
This week in our Bible study together, we have learned from the example of Joseph, a man who understood just how serious the consequences of sin can be. He had been sold as a slave in Egypt to Potiphar, "an Egyptian officer" (verse 1). One day, Potiphar’s wife lustfully said to Joseph, “Come and sleep with me” (verse 7). Joseph responded by refusing. He understood that the sin of lust would carry grave consequences (verse 8). In his response to Potiphar's wife, Joseph gave an explanation as to why he did not give in to lust. He said, “How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (verse 9). Joseph knew that this sin would not just be a sin against himself, Potiphar’s wife, and Potiphar; it would be a sin against God. Indeed, all sin is ultimately sin against God. This understanding gave him the perspective to say “no” to Potiphar’s wife.
Romans 3:23 explains why our sin breaks God's heart. It says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Sin breaks God’s heart because sin misses the mark of God’s holy, perfect standard. All sin matters greatly to God because it goes against His holy nature. Sin also required Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross so that we could be rescued from sin. May we grieve our sin and strive to say “no” to sin, knowing that sin grieves God, the One we love so much.
Write out a prayer to God today. In your prayer, confess the sin in your life, whether lust or something else that you have struggled with. Then, in your prayer, acknowledge that you know your sin is a sin against Him and that it breaks His heart. Ask Him to help you in your fight against sin so that you live in a way that honors Him.
God Remains Faithful
3 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,
“You will be proved right in what you say,
and you will win your case in court.”
5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “They rush to commit murder.
16 Destruction and misery always follow them.
17 They don’t know where to find peace.”
18 “They have no fear of God at all.”
19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
