The Fallacy of 'Insignificant Sin'
Our status before God is not determined by the magnitude of our sins, but by whether they have been forgiven and whether we are on God's side.
A.W. Tozer addresses the misconception that minor sins are insignificant and can be overlooked by God. He emphasizes that a person's standing before God is determined not by the severity of their sins but by whether they have been forgiven and their allegiance to God or the devil. Tozer illustrates this with the analogy of a soldier who, by merely siding with rebels, is guilty of mutiny regardless of his actions. The sermon calls for a deeper understanding of sin and the necessity of repentance and forgiveness.
Text
Persons out of Christ often try to comfort themselves with the remembrance that they have never in their lives committed any really great sin. Little trifling acts of wrongdoing perhaps, but nothing of any consequence, so surely God will overlook their rather insignificant transgressions when He settles their accounts.
In the first place, a man's status before God is decided not by the number and enormity of his sins but by whether those sins have or have not been forgiven, whether he is on God's side or the side of the devil.
The soldier who mutinies is held responsible for his mutiny even if he does nothing more than stand up and let himself be counted among the rebels. His crime lies in his break with his superiors and his willingness to go along with the enemies of his country. That he performs no extraordinary feats of violence may mean no more than that he is an ordinary fellow incapable of great deeds of any sort for or against his country.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Sin
- The Consequences of Sin
- The Importance of Forgiveness
- Forgiveness is not based on our actions, but on God's mercy
- Forgiveness is the key to a right relationship with God
Key Quotes
“A man's status before God is decided not by the number and enormity of his sins but by whether those sins have or have not been forgiven, whether he is on God's side or the side of the devil.” — A.W. Tozer
“His crime lies in his break with his superiors and his willingness to go along with the enemies of his country.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must recognize that our sins are not insignificant to God, but are a break with Him that requires forgiveness.
- We can be forgiven for our sins through faith in Jesus Christ, which brings us back to God.
- A right relationship with God is marked by peace and joy, indicating that our sins have been forgiven.