Thinking Evil Thoughts

This question came in response to our Share the Gospel class on the 4 Spiritual Laws. The four Spiritual Laws are:

1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)

2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him, you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)

4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1-8, Revelation 3:20)

QUESTION:

If you think evil thoughts, is that sin?

ANSWER:

The answer to this question is yes. Actions are sin, but so are attitudes and thoughts. This is one of the hard parts about describing “sin” to anyone in law #2. Sometimes we all have different definitions of what “sin” is or what a “sinner” is. Sin is anything that is contrary to what God has for us which includes actions, words, attitudes, thoughts, decisions, etc. Hebrews 4:11-13 shares with us that everything we do and say and think will one day be judged. That is why law #3 is so important because through Jesus Christ our sins are paid for.

Here are some Bible verses:

Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Proverbs 15:26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

Isaiah 59:7 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways.

Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"

Hebrews 4:11-13 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

If you have a question about Scripture, please email me at troy.borst@newbeginningscctampa.org