Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Sin Against God

The Bible says that every sin is a sin against God. How can that be? We see an example of that with Joseph. When he refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife, he asked how he could commit this great sin against God. We know that’s what it says, but we question how what goes on between two people could be a sin against God. It might be easier to understand if he had said it was a sin against Potiphar, but he didn’t; he said it was a sin against God.

One way in which it is a sin against God is that it fails to recognize that God is in charge. If God says adultery is wrong and we decide it is okay, then we’re saying that we have more right to control our lives than God does. If your boss told you to do something but you decided you wanted to do something else instead, he just might be upset with you.

Another way that it is a sin against God is that it breaks the fellowship with God. God is holy. In fact, that appears to be his foremost attribute. God is not able to look at sin. When we do unholy things, he isn’t able to have as close of fellowship with us as he would like to have.

Also, even though Joseph may not have been aware of it at the time, Joseph was in the place God wanted him. Had Joseph committed that sin, he may have made it difficult for God to use him as he intended. God may have had to have found another person to deliver his people.