What makes sin SIN?

What makes sin SIN?

September 3, 2013 at 7:54am

What makes sin SIN 

is not first that it hurts PEOPLE, 

but that it blasphemes GOD. 

This is the ultimate evil and the ultimate outrage in the universe.

The glory of God is not honored. 

The holiness of God is not reverenced. 

The greatness of God is not admired. 

The power of God is not praised. 

The truth of God is not sought. 

The wisdom of God is not esteemed. 

The beauty of God is not treasured. 

The goodness of God is not savored. 

The faithfulness of God is not trusted. 

The promises of God are not relied upon. 

The commandments of God are not obeyed. 

The justice of God is not respected. 

The wrath of God is not feared. 

The grace of God is not cherished. 

The presence of God is not prized. 

The person of God is not loved.

The infinite, all-glorious Creator of the universe, 

by whom and for whom all things exist, 

who holds every person’s life in being at every moment; 

is disregarded, 

disbelieved, 

disobeyed, 

and dishonored 

by everybody in the world. 

That is the ultimate outrage of the universe. 

Why is it that people 

can become emotionally and morally indignant 

over poverty 

and exploitation 

and prejudice 

and the injustice of man against man 

and yet feel little or no remorse or indignation 

that GOD is so belittled? 

It’s because of SIN. 

That is what sin is. 

Sin is esteeming 

and valuing 

and honoring 

and enjoying MAN 

and his creations 

above GOD. 

So even our man-centered anger at the 'hurt' of sin 

is part of sin. 

God is marginal in human life. 

THAT IS OUR SIN!

~ John Piper



To make light of sin
is inevitably
to make light of salvation
and so of the Cross.
To deny the just judgement of God
is a characteristic of false prophets,
'who say peace, peace when there is no peace'.

~ John Stott