Separation Is Sin; Union Is Holy

Jesus, when in human form, was sinless because he was never separated from God and was thus not separated from himself or from others.  As the second person of the Trinity, he was and is both uniquely himself and in perpetual loving relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit – and with us!  This state of unity in diversity is called communion, what I like to think of as Union in Community (CommUnion).  Even when he walked the earth, Jesus was in communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and with all of creation.

 

We see this sinless state of Jesus in his response to the devil’s temptations in the wilderness.  Right after Jesus is claimed in his baptism as God’s beloved Son, he is led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  The devil tempts him three times to separate from God (in other words, to sin). 

 

Jesus has been fasting and is famished, so the devil tempts him, first, with food, saying, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread."  Although the devil is, on the surface, tempting Jesus with food, the underlying temptation is for Jesus to love food more than the word of God.  Jesus is in union with God, so does not fall prey to the temptation.  Instead, he states God’s word: “One does not live by bread alone.”  This scripture is from Deuteronomy 8:3, and continues with, “but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” 

 

Next, the devil tempts him with all the kingdoms of the world, saying, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.  If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."  Although the devil is, on the surface, tempting Jesus with wealth and power, the underlying temptation is to worship the devil over God.  Jesus is in union with God so does not fall prey to the temptation.  Instead, he states God’s commandment, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

 

Finally, the devil places Jesus on the pinnacle of the Jerusalem temple and tells Jesus to test God, saying, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone’."  On the surface, the temptation is for Jesus to doubt that he really is the Son of God, but the underlying temptation is to test God to see if God is true to his word.  Jesus is in union with God so does not fall prey to the temptation.  Again, he recites scripture:  "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

 

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live in communion:  Each is uniquely himself, yet in perpetual loving relationship with one another.  They experience union in community.  We are made in the image of God and are, thus, meant to live in communion with God and with each other.  This is what we call heaven on earth.  We sin when we separate from God, ourselves, and each other, when we don’t honor God, ourselves, and each other.  Then, we experience separation and the dissolution of community.  This is what we call hell on earth. 

 

Think about it:  Each commandment Jesus gave is about honoring and loving God, ourselves, and each other so that we are in communion.  First, there are the first and second greatest commandments, which are, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “[l]love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37-38).  In other words, don’t be separated from God, yourself, or others. 

 

In addition to the first and second greatest commandments, there are teachings from the Sermon on the Mount/Plain about loving God, self, and others and thus not being in a state of sin through separation.  Let’s review:

 

• “You have heard that is was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders hall be liable to judgment.’  But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. . . .  [B]e reconciled to your brother or sister” (Mat 5:21-26).  Anger and insults separate; reconciliation unites.

 

• “You have heard that it is said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’  But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer.  But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.  Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you” (Mat 5:38-42).  Retaliation separates; graciousness unites.

 

• “But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Lk 6:27-28).  Hate separates; love unites. 

 

• “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Lk 6:37-40).  Judgment and condemnation separate; forgiveness and mercy unite.

 

Separation is sin and creates hell on earth.  Union is holy and creates heaven on earth.  This is why we see Jesus moving beyond societal and religious boundaries to reach out to those considered outsiders, like sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, prisoners, the ritually unclean, and Samaritans.  And he did this even though doing so challenged those in power and authority, and ultimately led to his crucifixion.  John 11 reports that the religious authorities in power at the time called a meeting to discuss the threat that Jesus was to the religious and social order.  They said, “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation” (48).  At this point, Caiaphas, the high priest, convinced them that Jesus must die (50).  Jesus remained in union with God, self, and others even at risk to his life.  He even remained in union on the cross, forgiving his enemies as he was dying.  Jesus, sinless and the embodiment of perfect love, thereby broke the power of sin and evil once and for all.

 

We see this crossing of societal and religious boundaries continue with the apostles, particularly with Peter and Paul.  God gave Peter a vision of unclean foods being made clean, a vision that is repeated three times.  Immediately after, Peter was asked to preach to the gentile Cornelius and his household.  He did, and the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to the gentile household while Peter was preaching.  Peter stated, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).  And, in today’s scripture passage from Romans, Paul states, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him” (10:12-13).

 

The same Lord is Lord of all.  There is no boundary between God and his people.  God loves everyone!  It’s we humans who create the boundaries that separate.  It’s we humans that create hell on earth.  God says, “Love one another!  Create heaven on earth!” and we say, “But,” and then provide some reason why we can’t love this person or that person or these people or those people.  We put up boundaries and think we can create a pocket of heaven inside of them, but that is a form of separation, and we end up creating a pocket of hell, because separation is sin. 

 

We’re going to take a moment now to consider the ways in which we sin by separating ourselves from others.  Who do we judge?  With whom are we angry?  Who do we malign?  To whom are we unkind or merciless?  With whom do we build unholy boundaries?  Write these people/cultures/countries/institutions/organizations/etc. down on the strip of paper in your bulletin.  These will be placed in the offering plate, collected, and laid at the foot of the cross on Maundy Thursday to be crucified with Jesus, preparing us to receive the new life of resurrection on Easter Sunday.

 

We are created in the image of God, who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, living in perpetual loving relationship with one another.  Each is uniquely himself and yet bound to one another in love.  They are in communion with one another, which is union in community.  They are, also, in communion with us.   When we honor and embrace our communion with God, we are inspired to honor and embrace our communion with one another.  When we do so, we grow in holiness and create heaven on earth. 

 

This Lenten Season, let us become aware of the ways in which we sin by separating ourselves from God, from ourselves, and from each other.  Then, let us repent by turning back to God to restore the loving relationships we were created to have.  When Easter Sunday comes, we will be able to proclaim, “Alleluia!  He is risen!” and claim the new life we have in Christ.  Amen.

 

Sermon preached by Rev. Amy Johnson, Canton Community Baptist Church, Canton, CT, Sunday, March 9, 2025, the First Sunday in Lent.

​

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tillich

[1] https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/quotes/quotations/view/14150/spiritual-quotation#:~:text=In%20any%20case%2C%20sin%20is,from%20the%20Ground%20of%20Being.