James 2:10-11 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11) For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Our minds tend to think in compartments. In doing so, we like to think that one compartment has nothing to do with another. This way of thinking, unfortunately, allows people to believe that they are faithfully serving God, all the while holding on to a “favorite” sin. Some of the “hypocrisy” in the church comes from this way of thinking. I think there are a number of people that truly believe they are faithful, yet living in a lifestyle of one or two sins. They generally feel that because they are striving to live the Christian life, ‘this one problem in my life won’t be that big of a deal’.
But James tells us this process of thought is IMPOSSIBLE! One sin is a big deal! We are told very clearly that if we break one law, we have transgressed the whole law of Christ! Continuing in any sin, big or small, simply continues us in a lifestyle of sin.
For those that are puffing up thinking that they are in great shape, consider this passage.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Christianity is not just a refusal of sin, it is also a propensity to do good whenever possible. A failure to proactively do good is a sin, so even if one is dedicated and conscientious about refusing sin, they can fall victim to being guilty of offending the whole law simply for doing nothing.
Let us not hold on to any sin in our lives. Let us recognize sin for what it is: A danger to our spiritual lives, and then learn to flee from it...All of it!
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