Why do we sin? We do things that we know are wrong. Many times, we even know the risks or dangers that accompany our sins. We can do the moral math, but we do a thing anyway. For example, maybe you insult a person. You know it’s hurtful and wrong. You know there’s nothing to gain by it. It may damage a relationship or make you sound bad in the ears of everyone who hears it. But we do it anyway. The moral math doesn’t work out, even if we’re only looking out for ourselves. There are other sins where the consequences may seem to work out for our benefit, but they hurt someone else. So we know we shouldn’t, but we do. Or we just know that something is wrong, it’s offensive to God, but we don’t care. Often, sin is completely irrational. We do it anyway. Why are we like this?
Other times we sin because we truly don’t know any better. Our consciences simply think wrongly. Why are we like this?
It’s tempting to theorize that, perhaps, God made us this way. Such theories come more from philosophy than from theology. That is, they come from the mind of man, rather than the Word of God. In the Augsburg Confession, the Lutheran reformers confessed,
“Our churches teach that although God creates and preserves nature, the cause of sin is located in the will of the wicked, that is, the devil and ungodly people. Without God’s help, this will turns itself away from God, as Christ says, ‘When he lies, he speaks out of his own character’ (John 8:44)” (Article XIX).
When we look in the Scriptures, it’s easy to figure out where sin came from. The devil tempted Adam and his wife to rebel against God. They did, and their wills were turned away from God. Since then, every person (except Jesus) has inherited this same corrupt will. And we follow it. We turn our hearts away from God. But he is the one who turns us back. He didn’t create the problem, but he’s the one who fixes it. The Father gave us the Son, Jesus, to be crucified as a ransom for our sin and to rise again, so that we could live in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). And they have sent the Holy Spirit to call, gather, enlighten, sanctify, and preserve us in the faith.
So when you feel your heart is weak, when your will is turning away from him, seek his help. Pray for the Holy Spirit to strengthen and preserve you. Seek his truth in the Scriptures. He knows our feebleness, and he will help.
The peace of Christ be with you all,
Pastor Dan Antal