A Sin of Weaknes or a Deliberate Si O
ne of the most recognizable symbols in the world is Lady Justice holding a pair of scales in her hand. Many people believe they will see those same scales in the hand of God on Judgment Day.The thinking goes like this,“If our good deeds weigh more than our sins, God will let us into heaven, but if our sins weigh more, then . . .” Need I go on?
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very clear about this,“One is not to imagine a The Bible does not speak of any such kind of faith that can exist and abide with, and Judgment Day scales. Not only that, alongside of, a wicked intention to sin and to even if there were such scales, we act against conscience” (FC III). Where was would have no sins to place on them. David’s faith? It had been extinguished by his No one would! Why not? God, for Jesus’ wicked intention to sin. sake, has forgiven every sinner, even We need to be aware that there are two kinds those who reject Him, even those who of sin: sins of weakness, and deliberate, intentional are in hell. People don’t go to heaven or sins. On the one hand, all sins are equal in hell because of the number of sins they God’s eyes. Every sin, no matter how commit; rather, it’s all about Christ.Those small or great it appears to us, is an who believe in Jesus go to heaven, no offense before God. As Jesus says in matter how many or how great their sins His Sermon on the Mount, lust is are.Those who do not believe in Jesus adultery, and hatred is murder. perish. Unbelief alone is what damns (e.g., On the other hand, it is much Mark 16:16, John 3:17–18). worse for a Christian So, does this mean that we can coast to commit a through life not worrying about how we live? deliberate sin Can we follow our fleshly desires and not pay against his attention to the sins we are committing? Since conscience unbelief, not sin, damns, are we free to sin all than for him we want? As St. Paul would say,“Perish the to commit a thought! How can we who have died to sin still sin of weakness. live in it” (Romans 6:2)? Think of it like King David didn’t perish the thought, that is. this: gravity When the thought came to him to commit doesn’t care adultery with Bathsheba, he followed through with how small or sinful actions. David deliberately and intentionally how big a rejected God’s commandments, committing falling adultery and then murder (2 Samuel 11). object is. How could a man of God do such a thing? Where was his faith? Our Lutheran Confessions are
