Day 29 - 90 Days in Proverbs - Separate the Sinner from the Sin
Proverbs 6:16-19 [NKJV] 16 These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Hate is an emotion that God gave us at creation. It has its place in our lives. If you read the Bible, you know that hate is an emotion that the Father has and that He expresses. Here in Proverb 6, we have a list of the things God hates. Each one is an action that one human can take that harms another human.
Christians often say, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” In verses 17 and 18, the author focuses on the specific parts of the human body that carry out the actions that harm others, like a lying tongue rather than a lying person. However, in verse 19, he pivots and says that God hates the actual false witness, not just the lying tongue. God hates the one who sows discord, not just the heart with wicked plans or the feet that run to do evil.
Even though this outlines that God hates the action and the actor, they are clearly outlines as separate things. We also have to be separate the person and the sin. Christians often say, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.” This is much tougher to do, of course, when the sin is perpetrated against me or my family. It goes against human nature to love the person who lied about me or who killed someone I love.
It can be even more difficult to separate the sinner from the sin when that sinner is me. But we are asked to do that too. For a repentant believer, we all struggle just as Paul outlined in Romans 7. Romans 7:17-20 [NKJV] 17 But now, [it is] no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but [how] to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will [to do], I do not do; but the evil I will not [to do], that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not [to do], it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
For all the repentance and spiritual growth over the decades since I was baptized, the nature that am working to stifle has not yet gone away. It won’t go away until we are transformed at Jesus’ return into new, spiritual beings. Our sinful natures are suppressed through our daily struggles to choose right over wrong. Our sinful natures no longer drive our lives, hearts, words and actions. The Holy Spirit takes the driver’s seat instead of human nature.
In order to continue suppressing human nature, we have to hate it and its works, just as God does. We must recognize and separate out that old nature that drove our sinful behavior in the past and will sometimes fight to pull us back into that sinful behavior. That person, that sinner is not who I am today. It is not who you are today, sweet sister.
As believers, our battle is to separate the sinner from the sin, by putting off that old man, that old nature each and every day before it has a chance to break out in sin. And we must understand that when we come to God to repent, the Father also recognizes the difference between the sinner and the sin. He forgives us and sends His Holy Spirit to us so that we can continue the battle to keep the sinner from breaking out into sin.
Sisters, you are not the sin you commit, because when God forgives you, the blood of Christ separates that sin from you. You are not the sin you commit because you are working to suppress that old self. Our work to separate ourselves from the sinful nature we battle continues every day.
Prayer — Father God, Please forgive me today for my sins. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Help me to suppress the sin that seeks to bubble up in me, that old nature that wants to take control of my thoughts, heart and life. I hate it, as you do. Together with your Holy Spirit in me, I will walk in new life today – a life guided and controlled by Your nature of love and forgiveness. I will follow the example of Jesus, who came to earth to both show me the way to live a life totally guided by You and then died so that I may be forgiven and walk that same path of new life. In His name I ask all things. Amen.
Your thoughts —
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