righteousness. I speak this way, using the illustration of slaves and masters, because it is easy to understand . Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness . Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy .  In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right .  And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom . But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of G-d . Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life .  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of G-d is eternal life through Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

D.L. Moody once wrote “The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.”

Galatians 5:4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with G-d by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Messiah! You have fallen away from G-d's grace.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of G-d has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from G-dless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to G-d, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great G-d and Savior, Messiah Yeshua, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing what is right.

So… Have YOU sinned? Many people have said (or thought) I haven’t killed anyone, I’ve never stolen money, I’ve never committed adultery, etc. Have you ever thought “Boy I’m glad I’m not like so and so. 

In your own words how would you define sin?

Galations 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of G-d.

In Hebrew the word for sin is “chet” which means to “miss the mark”, or in modern vernacular to screw-up in the eyes of G-d. Call it what you want… Justify it however you want… Sin is your deliberate decision or decision out of ignorance to turn away from G-d… It is intentional or unintentional rebellion against G-d.  You can sin either by failing to do what G-d says, or by doing what He forbids. You can sin by words, deeds, thoughts, motives, or your attitudes. 

Fortunately, for those of us whose sins are forgiven, when we stand before G-d on judgment day, we can take great comfort in the fact that He has not only really forgiven us, but He will remember our sins no more. When G-d forgives, He forgives and casts our sins away.

Micah 7:18-20 Where is another G-d like You, who pardons the sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy.  Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under Your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us Your faithfulness and unfailing love as You promised with an oath to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

Isaiah 38:17… For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

What is the only thing you can do, to get G-d to forgive you, and grant you His gift of salvation?

Accept Yeshua by confessing your sin, repenting, believing He was raised from the dead and asking Yeshua to be Lord of your life .

Remember, it was not by anything you did or said that caused you to be forgiven or atoned, it was solely by the grace and mercy of your loving Abba (Father) in heaven through the substitutionary sacrifice of His own Son, Yeshua. 

If you are not clear what the difference between grace and mercy is, here is a short explanation. Mercy is G-d not giving us what we deserve, and grace is G-d giving us what we don’t deserve.

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