Why You Don't HAVE TO SIN (Part 2)

For out of the heart come evil thoughts--murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  Matthew 15:19

Some read part 1 and thought, "We can't stop sinning because sin goes deeper than mere words and actions.  Jesus Himself said sins come from the heart."

They would take me as an example.  I've been married for 12 years and have not committed adultery.  But they would say, "Well I'm sure in 12 years time you've lusted in your heart for other women.  Jesus said 'whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery in his heart.'  So I'm sure you have committed adultery Olatunde. You can't keep from sinning in your heart."

There are two problems with these assumptions:

1. In Jesus' overall teaching about sins of the heart, He was making the point that sin indeed comes from the heart, and that the sin in the heart will eventually come out of the heart.
2. Therefore, there must be a correlation between one who has not committed the physical act of adultery and what is in the faithful husband's heart.

Of course the faithful husband has been tempted during his 12 years of faithfulness in marriage. Yet according to the heart principle of Jesus, if the physical act of adultery hasn't happened, then the act must not have been in the heart, because if it was, it would have indeed come out.

And as we saw in the story of Cain, the sin was crouching at his door.  As Jesus also said, hatred in the heart leads to murder.  But what was God telling Cain he had to master?  The sin at his heart's door that desired to have him. Cain was to master the heart of murder that would lead to the act of murder. 

Why don't we have to sin?
Because God says we don't.
He tells us what He told Cain.
The sin at the door of our hearts that desire us must be mastered by us.
We don't have to sin in our hearts, and thus in our words or actions.

click HERE for part 3