What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).
What is the solution to sin? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Wait a minute. If the problem is the breaking of the law, then why is the solution… belief? The problem of sin must be a lot deeper issue than just outward action. Sin involves not just acts, but actually begins as attitudes.
Picture yourself on that lonely mountainside. You were led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit confident of who you were, with your Father’s words still resounding in your ears: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Now it’s been 40 days and you’ve had nothing to eat. You’re weak and weary, and suddenly a beautiful angel of light appears beside you, with advice for your predicament. “Command that these stones be made bread” (Matt. 4:3). A harmless act, a miracle that Christ would have easily been able to carry out (He fed 5,000 on 5 loaves and 2 fish). But the temptation is missing something–the real thrust of the “angel of light’s” intentions: “If you are the Son of God….” IF you are the Son of God, perform a miracle…. IF you are the Son of God, jump and let the angels see to your safety…. Do you REALLY think you can endure the pain of death–simply fall down and worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world!…
Are you beginning to see a pattern here? Satan’s temptations are not so much to commit acts of sin (although they may lead to that), but to cause us to doubt God and His Word. “Has God REALLY said you cannot eat from ANY tree in the garden?”
What is the solution to sin? BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ! BELIEVE that He will keep His promises. BELIEVE that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). BELIEVE that He can give you victory over sin. BELIEVE and act upon it. Just as giving in to Satan’s temptations to doubt God and His Word will lead to sinful actions, so true belief will lead to a dependence upon God and a willpower that cannot be driven into sin.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Sarah E. Brown 