In a nut shell Sin is the problem! If you were able to approach God right now, you would instantly die! This is because God is totally Holy, Sin free and perfect that His very presence destroys Sin. So if you have sin, then you can not approach God.
Ok a couple of notes before we begin. Don't jump to the conclusion that you can earn your way to be with God or that by saying yes to Jesus you have to be perfect from now on...Now get a pen & paper and we will begin.
What is Sin?
Sin is anything that is against God, or against what He wants. A Deliberate Defiance to God (Psalm 19:13).
You might have done wrong to other people and that is wrong - but Sin is actually against God.
It is the breaking of a law He has written, either in action, attitude or thought (Exodus 20:3-17, Matthew 5:17, 1 John 3:4). God also classes breaking the law of the country where you live (Romans 13:11), doing anything we think is wrong (Romans 14:23) and failure to believe in Jesus as sin (John 3:18, 16:9). We can even have unknown faults that are sin! (Psalm 19:12)
What does Sin do?
Sin is very, very bad.
* Sin breaks our relationship with God so we cannot hear Him & He turns away (Isaiah 59, Colossians 2:13)
* Sin deceives us (so we may actually think we are ok when we are not) (Hebrews 3:13)
* Sin makes us slaves so we can't say no & can't see otherwise (Romans 6:16, 20:23, 7:25, John 8:34)
* Sin ensures we will suffer for Eternity (Roman 2:4-9)
* Sin allows satan to work in our hearts (Ephesians 2:2)
* Makes us enemies of God (James 4:4)
* Opposes God's law (1 John 3:4)
* Sin gives us Guilt & Shame (though sometimes we are not aware of it) (2 Timothy 3:6)
See God is Holy - imagine a rich woman, perhaps a queen, getting ready for her wedding - she is clean & beautiful - dressed in expensive white. That is like a picture of God's holyness or cleanliness. Now your sin is like walking upto that queen & throwing blood & vomit & pig poo all over her. Sin is disgusting to God. Your sin is disgusting to God - but He loves you despite this. He has been there when you sinned. He knows your thoughts and still He loves you - but sin must be dealt with.
Now is the time to ask God to show you what sin there is in your life. In your own words right now just ask Him. Write down anything that comes to mind. Some things that come to mind you may not think are sin - but write them down anyway.
Ok a couple of notes before we begin. Don't jump to the conclusion that you can earn your way to be with God or that by saying yes to Jesus you have to be perfect from now on...Now get a pen & paper and we will begin.
What is Sin?
Sin is anything that is against God, or against what He wants. A Deliberate Defiance to God (Psalm 19:13).
You might have done wrong to other people and that is wrong - but Sin is actually against God.
It is the breaking of a law He has written, either in action, attitude or thought (Exodus 20:3-17, Matthew 5:17, 1 John 3:4). God also classes breaking the law of the country where you live (Romans 13:11), doing anything we think is wrong (Romans 14:23) and failure to believe in Jesus as sin (John 3:18, 16:9). We can even have unknown faults that are sin! (Psalm 19:12)
What does Sin do?
Sin is very, very bad.
* Sin breaks our relationship with God so we cannot hear Him & He turns away (Isaiah 59, Colossians 2:13)
* Sin deceives us (so we may actually think we are ok when we are not) (Hebrews 3:13)
* Sin makes us slaves so we can't say no & can't see otherwise (Romans 6:16, 20:23, 7:25, John 8:34)
* Sin ensures we will suffer for Eternity (Roman 2:4-9)
* Sin allows satan to work in our hearts (Ephesians 2:2)
* Makes us enemies of God (James 4:4)
* Opposes God's law (1 John 3:4)
* Sin gives us Guilt & Shame (though sometimes we are not aware of it) (2 Timothy 3:6)
See God is Holy - imagine a rich woman, perhaps a queen, getting ready for her wedding - she is clean & beautiful - dressed in expensive white. That is like a picture of God's holyness or cleanliness. Now your sin is like walking upto that queen & throwing blood & vomit & pig poo all over her. Sin is disgusting to God. Your sin is disgusting to God - but He loves you despite this. He has been there when you sinned. He knows your thoughts and still He loves you - but sin must be dealt with.
Now is the time to ask God to show you what sin there is in your life. In your own words right now just ask Him. Write down anything that comes to mind. Some things that come to mind you may not think are sin - but write them down anyway.