📖 “When Does It Become Sin?”

By Pastor Terry – DocBMedia.com

🗣️ People love to dodge the Word.

You preach on sin, and someone says:

• “Well, I know a pastor who does worse.”

• “I’m not as bad as so-and-so.”

• “How do you even know when you’re sinning?”

  
  

Let’s talk about that last one. When does something actually become a sin?

🪧 The Field & the Dirty Sign – A Living Illustration

I want you to picture this with me:

We are walking across a big open field. It looks harmless, peaceful, and with nothing shady going on.

Up ahead, we see a sign—but it’s covered in dirt, and we can’t read what it says, so we keep walking.

At this point, we haven’t sinned. We haven’t seen the warning yet. The message is there, but it’s hidden — not by God, but by neglect, time, or just the dust of a busy life.

When we get closer, we stop. We brush off the dirt. And once we can finally read it, we see it says:

“NO TRESPASSING.”

Now we know.

Still — we haven’t sinned. Not yet.

But if we look at that clean sign, understand it, and step forward anyway?

That’s when we sin.

Because now we’re not walking in ignorance —we’re walking in defiance.

📖 Scripture Confirms It

James 4:17 –“To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Romans 7:7 –“I had not known sin, but by the law...”

It’s not a sin to approach a sign you can’t read. But it becomes a sin when the sign is clear, the truth is known, and we step past it anyway.

🚫 Excuses Won’t Hold in Court

You don’t get to keep walking just because:

• “Someone else already crossed.”

• “I didn’t want to be the only one who stopped.”

• “Well, they didn’t say anything at my church.”

📖 2 Corinthians 10:12 –“…they comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

God doesn’t grade on a curve. He gives every person a sign — and the chance to stop.

💡 Why This Teaching Matters

Too many folks are waiting for sin to feel wrong. But sin isn’t defined by emotion — it’s defined by truth and choice.

And here’s the truth:

• God will hold each person accountable for what they knew.

• God will deal with false preachers and fake religion.

• But God also expects you to stop walking once the truth is made clear.

Once you wipe off the sign, the next step is up to you.

📖 Jesus Still Promises the Helper

John 16:13 –“When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”

You don’t need perfect eyesight or a seminary degree. You need to be willing to slow down and read the sign.

The Holy Spirit will help you see it — and give you the strength to obey it.

✍️ Today’s Challenge

• What signs in your life have been ignored, even after God cleared the dirt?

• What truths have you read and walked past anyway?

• What step are you about to take that goes against what you know?

Stop now. Obey now. Not out of fear — but out of love for the God who gave you the sign before the judgment.

🙏 Prayer

“Father, thank You for giving me signs.Forgive me for the times I walked past them or pretended not to see. Help me slow down, see clearly, and stop where You say stop.Holy Spirit, guide me into truth — and give me the strength to walk in it.

In Jesus’ name, amen.”