The Significance of Sin (Mark 9:42-50)
This week at Grace, we're continuing our series on Mark 9 with a sobering passage: it is better to lose your hand, foot or eye than to have your whole person cast into hell.
Not exactly my first choice of a passage for Father's Day.
Thinking about sin and judgement isn't something we find immediately comforting. But wrestling with the truth of our sin and God's wrath forces us to recognize what is sacred, the significance of our choices, and ultimately our need for a savior.
The alternative to passages like this is to live in triviality - fooling about with petty grievances and distracting ourselves with escapist activities.
I hope this year on Father's Day we'll have a chance to celebrate men in our lives who have given us the gift of a life set apart for God, zealous for Him, and committed to loving their neighbors well.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
- Mark 9:42-50