There is an innate badness in each of us called sin. Though I state this matter of factly, I realize sin is a loaded term. Not all agree with the assessment of the human condition as sin. But, most would agree, things are not the way they are supposed to be. Sin is key to understanding salvation. We cannot come to recognize Christ as Lord and Savior without first acknowledging that we are messed up, and the only way we are made right is in the death of Christ, who condemned sin once and for all, giving us new life and freedom.

As wonderful as our salvation is, there is a tendency in the church to misunderstand sin.  Here are problematic views:

1. Legalism. This view believes that we we must make up for sin on our own - either through punishment or by doing good.

2. Licentiousness. A fancy word to say that we disregard any accountability to sin and indulge it fully.

These extreme views undermine the work of the gospel. To take sin seriously is to say that we have missed the mark of God's holiness, but we are not our own Savior. Neither is it to say that our sins are so grave that we merely give into them. We were bought with a price, so let us relish this, but not underestimate the offense of sin. To view sin properly is to say that we are absolutely wretched, but unconditionally accepted. I at times cannot wrap my head around this, but when I do there is such freedom!