Do people believe in sin anymore? If not, how will they be saved through Jesus Christ?
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On August 14, 2011, famed evangelist Billy Graham wrote in his column on the Kansas City Star an answer to a letter titled, “Jesus Christ brings us back to God.” The writer identified with the initials S.G., asked Billy Graham if he could gain enlightenment from any religion, as long as you follow its teachings sincerely. Billy Graham pointed the seeker to the problem of sin and that man’s main problem isn’t needing more wisdom, knowledge or enlightenment, but rather a sin problem. Billy Graham wrote, “If all we needed was more knowledge, then the search for what you call “enlightenment” might be the answer. But the Bible says we have a much deeper problem, and that problem is sin.”
It seems that today, many people have redrawn the lines of sin in the sand and everyone from children and adults to legislators have not only questioned the definition of sin but are trying to deny that sin even exists. What once used to be defined as either wrong attitudes, willful disobedience or simply behaving in a manner that is unbecoming is now a chemical imbalance in the brain, the result of some deep seated emotional trauma, or other psychological disorder. Since when has man’s sinful nature been the result of a psychological disorder? Do people lie because they are sinning, or do they lie because they have psychological issues, or both? Do we believe the Bible that says adultery is sin or conform to a society that says free love (though it may not be safe) is perfectly acceptable? If God says in His Word that homosexuality is sin, do we turn around and say it isn’t because science suggests it’s nature?
Billy Graham continues to say, “What is sin? Sin first of all is doing things that are wrong, not just in the eyes of others, but in the eyes of God. “ As more people turn away from the Bible, its teachings and the Ten Commandments, so too have they turned away from the concept of sin. Long gone are the days of right being right and wrong being wrong, but instead society has challenged God’s laws, set out to redefine them, and has removed the basic principles established in the Bible, these are the very same precepts our country was founded upon.
Do people still believe in the concept of sin? And if not, why would they ever recognize they need the saving power of Jesus Christ? To come to Jesus, one must first admit they are a sinner. Unfortunately, an entire generation is being brought up with a mindset that has removed God’s law and the concept of sin out of the equation.
The concept of sin, the belief in sin and the recognition of sin begins with the teachings of God and the belief that a Holy God created the world and set forth rules in place for His people to live by. Today’s society has done, and continues to do everything in its power to rip that concept and awareness of God’s law from humankind.
Billy Graham continued by saying, “Sin also is like a spiritual disease that corrupts our hearts and cripples our wills. And sin affects every one of us, no matter who we are. As the Bible says, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
Before someone can freely accept the gift of Jesus Christ’s shed blood on the cross and come to the realization that he died in their place to pay for their sins, they must first believe they are a sinner.
As society continues to draw further away from God’s law and the belief in the sin nature, it must be asked how anyone will ever come to salvation in Jesus Christ if they do not believe in the sin nature.
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