Sinners and Damn Sinners
Are you offended by me calling you a damn sinner? I must confess: I’m also a sinner every day; in thoughts, words and deeds. In that sense I’m just like you.
Lord, forgive us our treapasses.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God… – Romans 3:23 (but read further for understanding the Sacrifice of Christ)
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. – Deuteronomy 21:22-23a ESV
I was somewhat shocked to read in a definition that these words have changed meaning. Yet I acknowledge a contemporary preaching trend toward not offending the hearers of God’s word. A brief look at the definition of ‘damn, damnation and damnable’ reads:
These words have undergone a change of meaning since the King James Version was made. They are derived from Latin damnare = ” to inflict a loss,” “to condemn,” and that was their original meaning in English.
Now they denote exclusively the idea of everlasting punishment in hell. It is often difficult to determine which meaning was intended by the translators in the King James Version. They have been excluded altogether from the Revised Version (British and American).
Damnation invades the guilty minds of the wicked. They then accuse the Christian of morality irrelevant to their own demise. Hell for so many revelers is their daily entertainment of self-indulgence. Raising hell becomes their goal of response to a life without meaning and a death without consequence.
A further defining of the concept of damnation will include uncomfortable synonyms given infrequent consideration by most men of dust. These include:
condemn, damn, judgment, avenge, accusation, go to law, pernicious, perdition, destruction, waste, die and to perish.
Not a list of well-used words in our 21st century lexicon or smiling solicitations from some pulpits.
Not to dwell too long in these hell-pointing descriptions above for damnation, but here would be the time to mention that other contemporarily offensive word: sin.
Sin, damnation and other uncomfortable, almost archaic words like judgement point to man’s accountability to God.
Jesus, the Messiah, perfect and sinless, became substitution for my sins and for yours. God therefore sacrificed His righteousness, undeserving of death, as redemption from the damnation you and I deserve.
The sin of man and love of God led to the Cross.
Jesus and Judgment
For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver;
the LORD is our king; he will save us. – Isaiah 33:22
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples…
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin?
No, they could not convict the Son of Man of sin. The accusers of Jesus could only bring the righteous Messiah to the Cross by bribery and lies.
51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
A King’s Condemnation for the Sins of His Subjects
.. Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people…
55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples left him and fled.
57 Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered…
59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”
62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
63 But Jesus remained silent.
And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?”
They answered, “He deserves death.”
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”
The Damn Shall Hang on a Cross, Yet this Passover Sacrifice is Pure
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law…
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
… he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him… – Hebrews 5:8b-9
Only two mortal choices: judgement or grace.
Are you a damn sinner? Or are you a forgiven sinner In Christ?
