You Sin Too!

by Terry Wane Benton

The discussion may explore a particular sin, with some arguing that Jesus never called it a sin. However, when one points out that Jesus did condemn it by supporting the Law and then sending the Spirit to guide the apostles who condemned it, the argument goes in another direction.

Taking all the Scriptures on that topic, it is clear that it was a sin and still is a sin. In a last desperate effort, the other side resorts to, "Well, you sin too" and "he that is without sin, let him cast the first stone." This is supposed to allow us all to continue in whatever sin we want to continue in.

There is so much that is wrong with this argument. If I am a thief and you are an adulterer, we don't get to use the argument that "all have sinned. Therefore we all get to continue in our particular sin" (Romans 6:1ff).

When a specific sin can be identified, we must repent of each sin. We are not allowed to use the "don't throw stones" argument to protect our own sins. The man who had his father's wife in I Corinthians 5, could not protect his sin by firing back with "he that is without sin let him cast the first stone." He could not hide behind that statement and keep his father's wife.

Jesus did not make the statement about throwing stones to protect the woman in her sins. He told her to go and "sin no more." The point He was making to the woman's accusers was that they did not do what the law said regarding bringing such cases up for the death penalty. They did not bring the man and, therefore, were hiding sin and protecting some sin, perhaps themselves who knew just when and where to catch the woman in the adulterous act. Therefore, they could not bring just the woman and cast the first stone. All were to repent of sins.

This case has been abused to protect sin. When we sin specifically, too, we are all commanded to repent, confess our sins, and try harder not to keep sinning. We cannot protect our sins by saying, "Oh well, we all sin."

Abhor what is evil! (Romans 12:9). Be honest enough to explore what God says about a particular sin, identify it in yourself, and then repent and seek His forgiveness. Don't seek to protect it.

We will stand before the Judge for our own sins, and He has told us some specific practices that will definitely keep us out of heaven if we continue in them (I Corinthians 5-6; Galatians 5:19f). Don’t deceive yourself!