Jesus died for our Sins (Capital "S") NOT sinful actions

Chor Hon put a question to us recently "Is it our sins that makes us sinners or do we sin because we are sinners?".

I thought "What was he going on about?" Elaine answered "What difference does it make now? It is more important to know that once we are born again, we are no longer sinners because we have God's nature in us". During the Hebrews class, Leong Tien Fook said in passing that Jesus died for our Sins, capital "S". He said Jesus died for our original sin and he asked the class whether they understood that and everyone nodded their heads and the class continued.

It wasn't until last week that I finally put everything together and finally I understand. Thank you Lord for this revelation! I tried to explain to my bible study members last night but I don't think they got it. I tried to explain again to Henry this morning and finally he got it! Praise the Lord!

You see, Jesus died for our Sins. It is a NOUN (place, person, Name) and not a verb (an action). Apparently in 22 times in the book of Romans, the sin mentioned here is a NOUN. There are only 3 exceptions in this book where it is a verb.

Romans 6:1,2
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

The sin here in Romans 6 is a NOUN not our sinful actions. Jesus died for Adam's sin. Through one man's disobedience, all of us following him were condemned. So in answer to Chor Hon's question it should be "We sin because we are sinners". We are sinners because of one man's sin. It doesn't matter whether it is fair or not. In reality, we would do the same as Adam. It is already in "the mould".

Last night, during bible study, some of us shared how as a result of our sin, when we do something wrong, we feel guilty and then we try to correct ourselves and come back to God. I believe it is more important to experience God's love and His love is this - that He sent Jesus to die for all the sins of OUR guilt, OUR shame and OUR condemnation (yes, the ones we might be facing right now) as a result of our fallen nature. All that sin was imputed on Him on the cross, He was cursed on the tree, He took the wrath that was meant for us. And when we reflect that, it means whatever guilt, condemnation, shame that we suffer now (past, present and future), Jesus HAD ALREADY PAID THE PRICE and we can be so thankful. And that thankfulness causes us to love others and that's the strength of the holy spirit that we ride on and not a legalism sort of "love one another".

Jesus did not die for our sinful actions. We still sin but when we rediscover His grace everyday (by breaking bread, by discovering him all over again from the bible, sermons etc), when His GRACE meets our sins, his grace overwhelms our sins. We confess to him 1 John 1: 9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and WILL forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." and then, we move on under His grace.

If Jesus died for our sinful actions, then God has failed. But Jesus died for our Sins, our original sins, the capital S, the noun and that He succeeded because now we have the Holy Spirit and we have power to defeat ALL the powers of the enemy. And He did it ONCE for all and Father God remembers our Sins no more! He has forgotten because He sees Jesus in our heart, He sees us receiving His grace and His righteousness and then, we reign in life!

Romans 6:10
The death he died, he died to sin ONCE for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Hebrews 10:17
– then He adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (ESV)

That was God's rescue plan to us. And if we can grasp this understanding, it can be so powerful that our lives will be transformed! We realise that is nothing we can do but to just receive His love, His grace. Each time we agree with condemnation and guilt and shame, it is as if we did not agree that Jesus had put on himself OUR guilt, shame and condemnation on Him, that we would try to get it right with God again (on our own strength) but it does not work that way. It is seeking to understand grace all over again everyday. Everytime, we eat bread, let us remember that and receive Him all over again so that healing (spiritually, emotionally and physically) can flow through us again and His POWER, His HOLY SPIRIT will flow through us and in us again! To God be the glory!

So to Chor Hon's question, "Is it our sins that makes us sinners or do we sin because we are sinners?". The answer is :

We sin because we are sinners but no longer are we condemned, we are a new creation for those who believe, the old is gone! I am dead! I no longer live but Christ lives in me, who loved me and gave himself up for me. Now, that's riding on the holy spirit. :) Yee hah!