Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1074
Sin Is Against God
by Larry Ray Hafley
Before a man can repent for offending another, he must be aware of the fact that he has done so. Likewise, before souls can be led to "repentance toward God," they must know that they have sinned against him. Preaching which reproves and rebukes "sin against society and against your
fellow-man" will not provoke "godly sorrow (which) worketh repentance to salvation" (2 Cor. 7:10).
In order to be saved, one must recognize that he has sinned against God. Though it may deeply affect earthly, fleshly relationships, all sin is, at its core, an offense to God. Three cases of sin are selected which illustrate the truth of this affirmation.
(1) The wandering, squandering son of Luke 15 is proof. "And when he came to himself, he said,...I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee" (Lk. 15:17, 18). Note the order. First, "I have sinned against heaven." Second, I have sinned "before thee."
(2) Potiphar’s wife "cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused," saying that his master trusted him in all matters; "how then," he asked her, "can I do this great wickedness and sin against God" (Gen. 39:7, 8)? Joseph could not betray his master’s confidence. Was he concerned about sinning against Potiphar? Yes, but more than that he was worried about "sin against God." Because sin is against God, repentance is toward God.
(3) In David’s adultery with Bathsheba, he sinned against his "society’s ethical and moral values," and he sinned directly against Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. While that is true, observe David’s reaction when he was caught and convicted. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Sam. 12:13). Later, in the remorse of repentance, he wrote, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this great evil in thy sight" (Psa. 51:4). If he had sinned against society, he need only to repent toward society, but sin is against god, therefore, repentance is unto him.
Conclusion: Sin is against other people. No one denies that. The Holy Spirit teaches that we may sin "against the brethren" (1 Cor. 8:12). However, in so doing we also "sin against Christ." Unless and until an individual is shown that he has separated and alienated himself against God by sinning against him, he cannot be persuaded to "repent and turn to God, and do works meet (suitable) for repentance" (Isa. 59:1, 2).
