Herodias: an immoral woman who plotted a man's death

Her name means heroic but she did not act in any way heroic. Herodias was a proud woman who longed to be queen. She left one man to marry another. She used her daughter to manipulate her husband into doing her will. She acted arrogantly in complete disregard for the laws of the land. She was rebuked by John the Baptist for her sin and in response she plotted for his death. She may have relished in the face that she was able to get rid of John the Baptist and his message. What is her story? What is at the core of her story? What lesson can we draw?

Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great, who ruled Judea for thirty-four years. His reign had brought prosperity to a troubled region of the Roman Empire. He built theaters, amphitheaters and race courses, palaces and a magnificent temple in Jerusalem and lowered taxes. However, his reign had its shadows. He had ordered the slaughter of Jewish boys in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16-18).Herod also ordered the deaths of his favorite wife (her grandmother) and three of his sons for real or imagined intrigues. Herodias had married two of Herod the Great’s sons who survived his bloodlust: Philip and Herod Antipas. When Antipas was appointed the tetrarch of Galilee and Persia, she divorced Philip to marry Herod Antipas and Antipas divorced his wife for Herodias. With his new powerful position, they probably left untouchable. However, their marriage angered the people as it was against Jewish law. It forbade a man from marrying his brother’s divorced wife. It was seen as incestuous and unclean (Leviticus 18:16, Leviticus 20:21). One man dared be vocal about their marriage. John the Baptist cared nothing for diplomacy and he spared no one as he preached a message of repentance. 

Her family had been corrupted for many years. They knew how to use and abuse power. Each step of her family made down the path to sin until what would have been unconscionable is now acceptable and even reasonable. Herodias may not have even considered her act sinful but a political move. Herodias wanted John dead.. According to Mark 6:21-22, on Herod’s birthday, a feast was held and Herodias’ young daughter, Salome, performed a lewd dance for him and his guests. The dance so pleased Antipas that he promised anything she wanted. Urged by her mother, Salome requested the head of John the Baptist (Mark 6:24-25). Antipas ordered the beheading of John the Baptist, despite his own misgivings (Mark 6:26-27). At the core of her story is a closure against the gospel and the truth. Instead of listening to John’s correction, she found a way to silence him. She possibly was also giving a warning to others who would dare follow in his example. Herodias was a bitter, immoral and manipulative woman. She acted as if killing John would remove her sin, her guilt. She valued the power her marriage gave her rather than being living right with God. 

It is a natural defense to reject criticism. No one wants to be wrong. Being receptive to criticism simply means we are open to our sins, our flaws and our need for God’s forgiveness and help to change. When we are confronted lovingly about sin in our lives, it is an opportunity to repent and turn back to God. A habit of repentance makes one’s heart fertile soil for God’s grace. Proverbs 12:1 says “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (The King James Version uses the word “brutish”). Hating correction is a problem with pride. This is a pride that is arrogant and a sense of superiority. Proverbs 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Developing a spirit of humility toward correction takes grace, a grace that only comes from God. It has been said that only the wise are teachable (Proverbs 21:11-12) as they are willing to listen and learn from their mistakes as well as the mistakes of others. When you are confronted with a sin, thank the individual for the bravery to confront you and take it to God. 

In conclusion, Herodias was an immoral woman who nursed a grudge. She was confronted with a harsh truth. And instead of heeding that correction, she orchestrated the death of the man who dared put out that truth. Her physical removal of John did not eliminate her guilt. Her story is a lesson against the anger defensiveness that can often bubble up when we are confronted. It takes humility and grace to acknowledge the truth and seek God’s forgiveness and guidance. Sin will devour and consume us if unchecked. God promises us that if we come to him in repentance, He will forgive us (Psalm 32:5, Psalm 103:10-12). Will you go to Him? 

The Woman who Led a Sinful Life: repentance, forgiveness, and a display of love and gratitude

She is not known by name but her story is a lesson in devotion, forgiveness and humility. The woman who led a sinful life had a reputation as a notorious sinner, most likely a prostitute. Rather than deny or defend herself, she admitted her sin and made a spectacle of herself in a passionate display of love and gratitude. Luke 7:36-50 tells her story. Jesus forgave her sins and commended her for her great faith and love. Someone who has been forgiven a great deal loves the most. Why is her story significant? What is so important about feet washing? And lastly, the truths we must know about sin. 

After being forgiven for her sins, she wanted to show her gratitude that she took a jar of alabaster, filled with perfume, and entered a home where she was not invited. Kneeling before Jesus, she poured the entire jar onto his feet and proceeded to wash his feet with her tears and her hair (Luke 7:38). This woman’s action highlights a very important lesson that many people may overlook. No matter how sinful, how broken or how entrenched in error one may be, forgiveness is available when we seek it in faith. Jesus promised. Luke 7:50, “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Her story also warns others about judgment. Jesus’s host, Simon the Pharisee, couldn’t believe that Jesus was letting this woman touch him (Luke 7:39). Unfortunately, Christians tend to develop harsh attitudes toward the sins of others.Like Simon the Pharisee, his societal position blinded him to his own sins. Jesus used the woman’s display as a lesson for Simon, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47).  

Feet Washing is an act reserved for the lowest, most inexperienced servant of the household. As sandals or bare feet were common, travelers coming into a home would remove their sandals at the door. A good host would make sure his guests’ feet were washed and comfortable in his home. It was a duty of hospitality. A show of respect to the guest and a token of humility and affection from the host. In Luke 7:44, Jesus points out that Simon failed as host as he did not provide any water for his feet. It was an unpleasant and humbling task that gained little notice from guests. Did Simon believe that Jesus wasn’t worthy of this customary act? It’s possible. It wouldn’t have been that Simon didn’t know because feet washing has been featured throughout the Scriptures. Genesis 18:1-5, Abraham provided water for his guests to wash their feet. In Exodus 30:19-21, priests were required to wash their hands and feet before entering the temple. Of course, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper (John 13:1-17). It was an act of love and service. A lesson for the disciples to show brotherly humility toward others. 

There is a truth that people have a hard time grasping. It is a simple truth. Sin is sin. There is no sin scale. All sins deserve the same punishment. There are a few truths of sin. First, sin is a cosmic treason against a holy God. “God is holy and everything owes its being to him” (McGarry, 2019). Second, sin comes from mankind’s desire to act independently from God. We are born in sin (Psalm 51:4). We are unable to see the sinfulness of our hearts, our minds, our decisions, and our daily activities. Sin is powerful and pervasive. It is the easy way out. The pleasurable way. The selfish way. Third, sin and death always belong together. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and eternal separation from God. Even if sin seems to have no consequences in life, there is one we experience after death (McGarry, 2019).  Fourth, everyone is a sinner. Everyone! Romans 3:23 says “or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Lastly, sin is great but God is greater. Romans 3:24 says “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

In conclusion, the woman who led a sinful life knew she had done wrong. She knew she deserved any punishment that would come. And yet, it didn’t. She received forgiveness instead. In an act of love and devotion, she washed the feet of Jesus. A task his host did not perform despite the social custom. We, like the woman, have sinned against God. It may not be as socially egregious as the woman or others around us, but sin is sin. Despite our sinful nature, despite our rightful punishment, we have a gift of forgiveness through Jesus. Belief in Him, faith in Him from the heart is all that is needed. 

Reference

McGarry, Mike (May 15, 2019). Five Truths We Must Teach About Sin. Rooted. www.rootedministry.com/five-truths-we-must-teach-about-sin. 

Bathsheba: a twisted story of sex, politics, and a cover up

When I started this month’s study on Bathsheba, I thought I knew her story. And as I researched for this post, I never realized how many viewed her part in her story. Many have viewed her as an adulteress who knew what she was doing when she took her ritual cleansing bath. But I have one problem with this view, how could she have known that King David would be on the rooftop that night? If we take evidence from the Biblical story, we can see that she was innocent in this twisted story of sex, politics and a coverup. This story is told in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25. 

We first see Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:2 as King David spots a beautiful woman bathing. Verse 4 tells us that she was taking her ritual cleansing after her monthly period. Her husband, Uriah, was off at war, when messengers came to take her before the king. David sleeps with her and later Bathsheba discovers she is pregnant and tells David. This news sets in motion a series of events which would lead David to greater and greater transgressions which his family would feel the ramifications for generations. David tries to cover it up. He sends Uriah home from the battlefield, hoping he would sleep with his wife and think the child was his. But Uriah doesn't do that. In desperation, David sends Uriah back to the battlefield and sets him up to be killed in battle. When news came that Uriah had been killed and after an appropriate mourning period, David marries Bathsheba and she gives birth to a son. The prophet, Nathan, confronts David, first with a story that enrages David, and then with David’s sin that the story illustrates. David sought forgiveness and God forgives him; however the baby boy would die. 

Did Bathsheba have a choice when the messengers took her to David? Many people have argued that yes, she did. She could have said, “no, I’m married.” But could she really? She lived in a time when women had very little control in their lives, let alone a voice. If the king requested (in other words, demanded) your presence, you came. There was no telling the king, “no.” Also, 2 Samuel 11:4 says the messengers took her to him. The word “took” is very important. In Hebrew, the word implies force. It means to seize, take captive, to be captured (Bernock, 2019). Bathsheba had no choice but to come. Could not have fled like Joseph did from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:7-12)? I still say no, she probably felt she couldn’t. Even God identifies David as the sinner and Bathsheba as the innocent party (Feinstein, 2008) as Nathan uses a lamb to illustrate her role in his story (2 Samuel 12:1-4). And David probably intended for this encounter to be, essentially, a one-night stand, until the pregnancy changed everything (Adelman, 2021). And he chose to cover up his sin with sin after sin. 

There are three lessons we can learn from this story. First, trying to cover up sin only makes it worse. Have you ever lied to cover up a lie? And continued to lie? We all have. While telling the truth can make us look bad or even hurt someone; however, in the long run, honesty is always best. It’s the same with sin. Being truthful and resisting sin in the first place is better than trying to hide the first sin with more dishonesty. Second, even the innocent can be hurt by sin. Bathsheba would lose her husband and her baby son, Uriah would lose his life, and a tiny baby would die because of David’s sin and cover up attempts. There were many lives in future generations ruined because of one man’s sin. Third, repentance doesn’t reverse the effects of sins. While David was repented and God forgave him, the results of his sin and the ramifications could not be taken away. David would see his kingdom fall into turmoil as sons fight for the throne and eventually his kingdom torn in two (1 Kings 12). 

In conclusion, Bathsheba was a woman who was drawn into a situation driven by one man’s desire. While she seems to be the catalyst that sets the ball rolling. It began with David and it ended with David. It seems that her only crime was that her beauty made her a victim to another man’s desire. She is fairly silent, only uttering three words in the entire story. But she certainty isn’t passive. She reappears in the Bible and becomes more active as her son, Solomon becomes king of Israel (1 Kings 1). From her story, we can see that we don’t have to be the sinner to be affected by its consequences. 

References

Adelman, Rachel (June 23, 2021). Bathsheba: Bible. Jewish Women’s Archive. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/bathsheba-bible. Retrieved October 24, 2021. 

Bernock, Danielle (August 19, 2019). Who Was Bathsheba in the Bible? Christianit.com. 

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/who-was-bathsheba-in-the-bible.html. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

Feinstein, Jessica (January 25, 2008). Bathsheba is One of the Most Beguiling Characters in the Bible. US News.com. https://www.usnews.com/news/religion/articles/2008/01/25/bathsheba-is-one-of-the-most-beguiling-characters-in-the-bible. Retrieved October 24, 2021. 

Delilah: lessons about temptations, sin and its consequences

A person’s greatest achievement may be helping others. Some people may prevent others from achieving great things. The story of Samson and Delilah is a well known one. Delilah is the harlot of an unknown nationality who used her beauty to betray Samson, her lover, and played the fool three times as she tried to find the secret to Samson’s strength, until she ultimately achieved her goal. She played a minor role in Samson’s story; but her minor role had devastating results. Motivated by greed, Delilah used Samson’s infatuation with her to her advantage. Blinded by his love and possibly his pride, Samson was weakened to the warning signs. Their story is told in Judges 16:4-22. Who was Delilah? What is the theme and warning of their story? What lessons can we learn from the story of Delilah and Samson? 

The five Philistine kings hated Samson, the long-haired strongman, who had set their fields on fire (Judges15:4-5) and slain a thousand men (Judges 15:8). Each offered a lot of money to Delilah to find the secret to Samson’s strength. She had her beauty and skills as a prostitute to weaken him, she knew Samson would tell her and eventually he did. Three times, she asked him the secret, and three times he told her lie after lie, until she had enough. She pouted and proclaimed if he really loved her, he would tell her the truth. Her nagging finally wore him down and he told her the truth: his hair. When he fell asleep, she cut his hair and woke him up as the Philistines attacked. He woke up to fight back as he always had but he was unable to subdue them and he was easily overtaken. They gouged his eyes out and imprisoned him. The Bible doesn’t mention Delilah again. But it’s not the end of Samson’s story. He would eventually gain his strength and kill more Philistines with his death than he did in life. 

One main theme in Delilah’s story is temptation and the dangers of an unhealthy relationship. An interesting note: the meaning of her name seems to mean, “night” from the Hebrew word, layla, as Samson’s name, Shimshon, means “sun.” “As night overcomes the mighty sun, so Delilah overcomes the apparently invincible strongman, Samson” (Exum). A clue to the dangers of their relationship? Judges 16:4 states that Samson loved Delilah, but not that she loved him back. Perhaps, a hint that she truly did not care for him and had no qualms about betraying him (Exum). She makes no pretense of her intentions to find out Samson’s secret. Three times she asks and three times there is an attempt to overcome him. So why did he finally reveal the truth? The story of Samson and Delilah is a warning about being careful of the company you keep. As 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” Delilah was a bad influence who wore Samson down to reveal his story, despite all the signs, all the red flags (Bolinger, 2020). 

There are many lessons in her story. First, be careful with temptations, especially sexual temptations. Sex creates a “two-becoming-one” bond (Genesis 2:24) which is very difficult and painful to separate (Bolinger, 2020). Second, we need to be careful who we place our trust. We need to make sure that a person is trustworthy. It is a lesson we continually learn throughout our lifetime. We cannot let our guard down. Samson let his guard down and let Delilah impair his judgment to eventually reveal his greatest weakness (Bolinger, 2020). Third, sins have consequences, even forgiven sins. Samson suffered the consequences for his lapse in judgment. According to John Piper (1991), there are many goals for God-sent consequences for forgiven sins, one being the consequences are to humble and sanctify the sinner. As Hebrews 12:6 says, “Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” When we come to the Lord to confess sins and seek forgiveness, he promises to no longer remember our sins (Isaiah 43:25). We must remember that consequences from sin are not an indication that God is angry.” (Stanley, 2015).

In conclusion, the story of Delilah and Samson is an example to be careful about the people we trust and the relationships we engage in. Not all people have our best interests at heart and not all relationships are good for us. Their story is also another example that God loves us and will not abandon us even when we make mistakes, even when we sin. Delilah was motivated by greed and used her sexual hold on Samson to gain the information she needed. Samson was blinded to the warnings and red flags before his ultimate downfall. While he was physically blinded, he sought his strength one more time, for God to remember him (Judges 16:28). God can help us turn a bad situation to good for his glory. All we need to do is turn to him and seek his guidance. 

References

Bolinger, Hope (January 6, 2020). Who Was Delilah in the Bible?. Christianity.com. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/who-was-delilah-in-the-bible.html. Retrieved March 24, 2021. 

Exum, J. Cheryl (no date). Delilah: Bible. Jewish’s Women Archive. https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/delilah-bible. Retrieved March 24, 2021. 

Piper, John (August 26, 1991). Consequences of Forgiven Sin. Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/consequences-of-forgiven-sin. Retrieved March 24, 2021. 

Stanley, Charles J. (January 16, 2015). Forgiveness and Consequences. In Touch Ministries. https://www.intouch.org/read/forgiveness-and-consequences. Retrieved March 24, 2021. 

David: lessons in faith, forgiveness and accepting God's plan

David is considered one of the greatest men in the Old Testament. From his humble beginnings as a shepherd boy, he was chosen by God to be become king. He is a poet, writing many of the 150 Psalms. He slayed the giant Goliath when no one else dared to try. He would be an ancestor of Jesus. His son, Solomon, would be known as the wisest king in the world. However, he was also a liar, adulterer and a murderer. Despite his flaws, David was considered a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). Through his strengths and weaknesses, his successes and failures, we can learn from David’s example. God looks in our heart first when calling us to serve. Forgiveness of our sins does not remove the consequences of sin. Accepting when God answers our prayers with “no” for He has something greater planned for us.

First, God sees our heart when calling us to serve. In David, God saw a man who had an unwavering faith. In David, God saw a man who loved him and wished to serve him to the best of his abilities. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God tells Samuel “…the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart” when He called David to be the anointed king. God saw that David’s heart sought Him. He trusted Him and worshipped Him in all he did. David was outraged that Goliath, the Philistine, dared dare defy God (1 Samuel 17:26). David saw a mortal man defying almighty God. He knew he would not fight alone. God would fight with him. 1 Samuel 17:46, David says “…I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” And when David was successful, he attributed his success to God. Not his own strength or cunning but to God. When the ark was returned to Jerusalem, David danced and leaped in front of the ark as it entered the city. His wife, Michal, would despise him due to his actions and confront David about his behavior. David replies, “It was before the Lord….I will celebrate before the Lord” (2 Samuel 6:21). You may ask, what does David’s faith have to do with me? David was the youngest son of a shepherd but God saw in his heart a desire to serve him. God made him king of Israel. He became a very important ancestor in the genealogy of Jesus. I believe that God will reward us beyond our wildest dreams for our faith and desire to serve Him.

Second, forgiveness of our sins does not remove the consequences. The best example of this is David’s affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. As told in 2 Samuel 11-12, King David sees the beautiful Bathsheba bathing one night. He sends for her to his room where he sleeps with her, knowing full well that she is another man’s wife (2 Samuel 11:3-4). When David gets word that Bathsheba has become pregnant, he tries to cover up his sin by bringing Uriah home from the battlefield to sleep with his wife and trick him into thinking he is the father (2 Samuel 11:6-13) When this fails, David sends Uriah to the front line where the fighting is the fiercest (2 Samuel 11:15) and Uriah is killed. David later marries Bathsheba and she gives birth to a son. Nathan, the Lord’s prophet, comes to David and confronts him. David immediately seeks forgiveness and he is forgiven but the consequence of his sin will be the death of his son. (2 Samuel 12:3-4). Sin has irreversible consequences. The saying “it is better to seek forgiveness than ask permission” simply isn’t true. “I’m sorry” doesn’t erase the hurt and devastation caused by a sin. You may ask why the child had to die. To me, the child’s death was a greater punishment to David than his own. Knowing the consequence could be the death of an innocent child. Therefore, be quick to seek forgiveness and confess our sins but be prepared for consequences of those sins.

Third, accepting when God answers our prayers with “no” is one of the hardest aspects of faith. Despite his faith and heart for God, David was not allowed to build a temple for the ark, a “home” for the Lord. David wanted to build a place for the ark of God, which remained in a tent while David lived in a palace (2 Samuel 7:2). The prophet, Nathan, tells him to go ahead and build the temple but receives a message from God that that was not his desire (2 Samuel 7:3-16). In this message, the Lord tells David that his job is to unite the people of Israel as one nation. This task would require a great deal of David’s time and energy and a great deal of bloodshed as he would defeat Israel’s enemies. And David’s son will build the temple (2 Samuel 7:12-13). David’s request was good. He had the best intentions when he wanted to build a temple for the Lord. But the Lord had a greater plan for David and told him no. When I pray, even though I desire God to tell me yes, I always remember that God answers prayers in three ways: yes, no and not yet. It takes great faith to hear “no” or “not yet” as God has a greater plan for me in my future. Maybe I am not ready for my request to be fulfilled. Maybe He sees something else in my future, something better than I was asking for. Whatever the reason for God’s answer, I know that when He answers “no,” He still loves me. There have been many times when I prayed for something and it didn’t happen. However, down the road I was blessed with something greater and better. I know it was God finally saying “yes.”

In conclusion, David was a great man of faith who performed great feats for the Lord. He had a heart to serve God and a faith to help him in uncertain situations. However, he was a man who faltered and sinned. No matter what his sin was, he was quick to confess his wrongdoings and seek forgiveness from God. We can see David’s life as an example of how a faithful man lives. He wasn’t perfect. He failed, he sinned but he always sought after God. He lived a life to please God and not others. He also accepted when God answered his prayers with “no.” Can you imagine what blessings God could bestow on us if we had a heart and faith like David’s? If we were quick to confess our sins and seek forgiveness? And if we were more willing to accept God’s “no” as an answer to our prayers? 

Stop! There are no big or little sins

Ever hear someone say “well my sin isn’t as big as his sin” or “my lawbreaking is a big as hers?” I have and I find it annoying that 1) people would compare. Sin is still sin and breaking the law is still breaking the law. Second, committing sin is different from breaking the law. There is a difference. Sin is an immoral act which is considered to be a transgression against divine law. Laws are man made system of rules that are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior. While some laws are derived from divine law, there are differences how man and God see these crimes.

Misdemeanors are crimes which are punishable by a fine and/or confinement for up to a year. These crimes are considered less serious than felonies. There are three degrees of misdemeanors and are classified different state by state. First, Class A misdemeanors are punishable by confinement up to a year and/or a fine of $500 to $5,000. For example, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrested. Second, Class B misdemeanors are punishable by confinement up to six months. Examples of a Class B can shoplifting and first offense DUI. Lastly, Class C misdemeanors are punishable by confinement up to 30 days or a fine. Examples of Class C are public intoxication and theft under $50. Violations are often lumped together with misdemeanors and are punishable by a fine only.

Felonies are more serious crimes punishable by death or imprisonment in a state or federal penitentiary for one year or more. There are four degrees of felonies. First, Capital offenses carry the maximum penalty of death. Examples are murder, espionage and treason. Second, a first degree felony has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Examples are arson, burglary and robbery. Third, a second degree felony has a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment. Examples are assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated battery and aggravated arson. Lastly, a third degree felony has a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. Examples are embezzlement, theft, and fraud. There are some felonies which can be classified as a misdemeanor depending on the state and judge, these are known as wobblers.

Sin is disobedience to God. For example, the Ten Commandments are God’s laws about certain behaviors. Many of the laws in the Bible stem from these ten. In the eyes of God, sin is sin. There are no bigger sin or smaller sin. Murder and lying are equal to God and carry the same penalty: spiritual death. A just and perfect God could not just simply forget sins. He must deal with the injustice of sin, all sins. Sin is sin in God’s eyes despite being big or small in our eyes. God is holy and righteous that He cannot accept any sin regardless of how big or small it may be. In the Old Testament, the practice of a sacrificial lamb was established to cover the sins of the people. In the New Testament, Jesus came and fulfilled prophecy to be the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

In conclusion, the main difference between manmade laws and sin is after time served, the offender is usually free to go while sin carries an eternal punishment. What we really need to do is stop comparing. Don’t make yourself better because you only commit “little sins” or “little crimes.” It is little only in the eyes of man, not in the eyes of God. We need to take responsibility for our wrongdoings and admit that we do wrong. How many of you speed? All of us do but not all of us have gotten caught. Misdemeanors, felonies and sin are still wrongdoings. Even though misdemeanors and felonies have various degrees, sin does not. We all have fallen short of the glory of God and are redeem through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-24) for those who willingly accept it.