Knowing Our Sin
Scripture Reading —
Through the law we become conscious of our sin.
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When I am sitting in an airplane and waiting for us to taxi out to a runway, I can’t always tell when the plane starts to move. But if I look outside and focus on a still object, I can see whether the plane is moving.
In some ways the Ten Commandments are like that, acting as a landmark to show us how we are living in God’s world.
Unfortunately the commandments do not reveal movement in a positive direction. They show us how easily we can stray away from God toward destruction. Though God has given us these instructions for living and prospering in his world, we fall short in loving and obeying him. Indeed, as says in our passage for today, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Since none of us can live up to God’s holy standards, we are all sinners who have broken God’s law. We deserve God’s just punishment for our sins.
We can’t earn our salvation, and we can’t fix our rebellious relationship with God. That’s the bad news. But the good news is this: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (). Only faith in Jesus Christ, who obeyed God’s law perfectly and gave his life as a sacrifice for us, can wash away our sins and make us right with God.
The Ten Commandments show us clearly that we are sinners. At the same time, they point us to the only way we can find salvation: through Jesus.
Father God, your commandments show that we have sinned and cannot save ourselves. Move us to faith in your Son, Jesus, the only one who can ever save us. Amen.
About the author — Kurt Selles
Kurt Selles is the former director of ReFrame Ministries and Executive Editor of Today, serving from August 2012 through July 2026. He is a graduate of Calvin College and Seminary, and received his PhD from Vanderbilt University. Before coming to ReFrame, he served 19 years in Taiwan and China with CRC World Missions. Kurt later taught missions at Beeson Divinity School, where he also acted as the director of the school’s Global Center. Kurt and his wife, Vicki, reside in Grand Rapids and have three adult children.
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