Does sin deprive us from God ?

Isaiah 59: 2 - Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Who are these people who still preach this today, who preach that it is sin that separates us from God. Which sin are they talking about?

Isaiah is a prophet of the 8th century before Jesus Christ. By saying these words that we've read in verse 2 of the fifty ninth chapter of his book, words authentically inspired by God, when Isaiah writes these words, at the time, he speaks according to the regulations and principles of the old covenant which God Himself had instituted and which were part of a great, wise plan, but whose wisdom would be revealed only 8 centuries later.

Since then, something has happened and did change the deal, for us. The regulations of the law have been set aside, annulled, replaced by a better hope, a higher law. The law of the new covenant in Jesus Christ, the ministry that brings righteousness has replaced the ministry that brought condemnation.

Hebrews 7: 18-19 - For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (King James)

The glory of the new covenant is greater than that of the old one under which Isaiah lived. And so superior in glory that in comparison the old covenant is no longer glorious at all. It was just necessary. This is what we read in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 3: 9-10 - If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.  

Which definition of sin does the Lord Jesus Christ give? He's the one who has authority in the matter, isn't He? What if we'd take His definition of sin.

John 16: 7-9 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me;

For a little more than 2000 years, since Jesus Christ was born on earth, since He died, resurrected, and ascended into glory, this principle (our sins hide the face of God from us); this principle of the old covenant is set aside, abolished, outdated. Before Jesus Christ, sin did separate man from God. Prophets and the law extensively speak of it. But today, between the sinful man and God, there is a unique sacrifice that has taken place, which has been recorded, approved, validated and which, in the eyes of the Supreme Grand Judge, has definitively resolved the question of sin.

John 1: 29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

The sacrifice of the lamb of God has taken place and the effectiveness of his Precious Blood is eternal, taking away the sin of the world and consequently abolishing all the regulations of the old covenant attached to it.

Hebrews 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

This is the good news of the gospel and there is no other and there is nothing to add to it. It's not a religion. It's historical fact.

Through Jesus Christ, whoever you are, God has reconciled you with Himself through the death of His Son. Sin has been put away and there is now, as you read these lines, nothing that can keep you from God's face or stop Him from listening to you, nothing that can prevent you from getting into a relationship with Him and finding complete peace for your soul, nothing if, when you talk to God (and you freely can do it now), you speak to Him, claiming to the sacrifice of His Unique Son, Jesus Christ and nothing else.

Hebrews 10:16-18 - This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

God no longer remembers your sins because of Jesus. This is a fact. You didn't know it and maybe I'm teaching you the news today. This incredible news is true and worthy of your consideration.

1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Real blood flowed along a cross on which was nailed an innocent, bruised, and covered with wounds. It was two thousand years ago, and this blood has spread on the ground, drop by drop, on the soil of this same land on which you and I walk each day. It is the blood of the One who let himself be immolated as a pure and unstained lamb.

And the Gospel tells you that this blood is proof that your sins, your rebellion, and all that accuses you before the abundantly blessing God was erased, destroyed and forgotten. You have nothing to offer. At Jesus death, there has been forgiveness of all sins for the entire world and for all times. Without consideration. There is no offering to do, if not for your heart. Just start to thank this loving God who accepts you fully and ask him for His spiritual intervention so that news you hear become like a big bang in your mind that upsets all your designs and whole life. Let there be light!

Let us return to Jesus' definition of sin:

John 16: 9 - When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me

How does the Holy Spirit convince the world of sin? Is it by showing him his sin, as these preachers of the old covenant do? Or as the accusing law does? No!

The Holy Spirit convinces the world of its sin by showing him a wonderful Savior, a Savior who has already done the job perfectly, completely: Jesus, the Savior of all men and women of the earth and of all times. That is why although seeing sin one does not feel any condemnation, if not a mixture of sadness and overflowing gratefulness.

How could one feel condemned when one realizes that a Savior took care of everything when we have never even had any interest for Him?

Before this fully forgiving Savior, what is left to be condemned, which subject of condemnation can subsist? It's another way of seeing sin. We do see sin; we see it but in the light of a Savior. The heart is filled with joy because it sees its sin for the first time from another angle. From the angle of a full salvation perfectly and fully granted. He sees a dead sin, nailed on a cross, a forgiven, forgotten sin that has lost all its destructive power and he overall sees a resplendent Savior that opens the door to true and everlasting happiness through already prepared full forgiveness.

It is the splendor of the gospel! The Holy Spirit instructs us to put our trust in Christ, in his work of demolition of sin and death and in His power to make all his victories effective in our lives.

Sin, says Jesus, and there is only one left now (it is the updated definition of sin for us today, a definition that replaces that, outdated from the old covenant) is that they do not believe in me, that they do not believe in all the effectiveness of what I have done on the Cross and in all the efficacy of what I can and want to do today in them through the Comforter, if they invite me to dwell in their hearts. And when it comes, the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) will convince the world with regard to sin, because they do not believe in me

Invite Jesus to dwell in your heart!

Revelation 3: 20-21 -Here, I stand at the door, and I strike. If someone hears my voice and opens the door, I'll go home, I'll have dinner with him, and he with me. The one who will defeat, I will make him sit with me on my throne, as I have defeated and sat with my Father on his throne.