From Sin to God's Glory
- Raymond Melendez
- Jan 22
- 6 min read
At TheGoodNewsCast.com, we believe in the forgiveness of sin, where humanity sees God's glory and moves with it.
Leviticus 20 addresses practices so destructive that they warrant severe consequences, including death. At the heart of these commands are the preservation of life, God's holiness, and the future of creation itself. One of the most striking examples reads as follows:
“Tell the people of Israel that if any of them or any outsiders living among them offer their children as human sacrifices to Molech, they will be killed." Leviticus 20
Why is this act so severe? The following verse explains:
“Children are a gift from the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.” Psalm 127
Children represent blessings and the essence of life. To sacrifice them is to reject life, the very gift of God. Leviticus 20 teaches that anything that kills cannot continue. Sin results in death, and God will not permit practices that lead to death to define creation.
Across centuries, humanity’s great religious traditions have spoken with one voice: sin must be put to death. From self-denial to prayer gatherings, the message has remained consistent—subdue the flesh and eradicate sin. These teachings are becoming increasingly significant today. In an age marked by uncertainty, cultural divides, and dissatisfaction with shallow worship, the call to be holy is intensifying.
Christianity, Islam, and other traditions maintain that genuine spirituality requires nothing short of holiness. Just as Leviticus 20 declared that certain practices cannot continue, modern movements proclaim that sin itself must be eradicated. In every age, the message remains: death to sin.
A Faith That Offers Everything
The story of Abraham in Genesis 22 is one of the most challenging passages in Scripture. God commands him:
“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.” Genesis 22
At first glance, this command seems to contradict the commands of Leviticus, where God forbids child sacrifices and declares that life must be preserved. Yet the resolution comes when God halts Abraham’s hand and declares,
“Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son.” Genesis 22
What God sought was a willing spirit—a heart so completely devoted that even the most precious blessing was not withheld. Leviticus 20 lists what cannot continue, while Genesis 22 tests Abraham's willingness to give all that he possesses to God.
These teachings are similar to Pentecostal doctrines across the world. In Africa, Latin America, and Asia, believers gather in worship services marked by prayer and fasting. The faith is uncompromising: “crucify the flesh,” “die to self,” and “walk in holiness.” The battle against sin is viewed as a victory made possible through the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s words about being “crucified with Christ” teach that sin’s power can be put to death. Critics argue this creates unrealistic expectations, but followers of Paul insist the focus is on a changed life. The promise is bold: sin is not a companion but an enemy that can be eradicated.
Together, Abraham’s willingness and the victory taught by Pentecostals reveal a profound truth: God delights in hearts that are willing to give everything, holding nothing back.
Beyond Death: The Battle Against Sin
The contrast between God and humanity is immeasurable. God is Spirit and sinless (John 4:24), while humanity is flesh and inherently sinful. Leviticus 20 commands:
“You are to be holy to me because I am holy.” Leviticus 20
If taken literally, this command would seem to require humanity to cease being human—to die entirely. Yet God does not take pleasure in death but in a spirit that is willing to give everything one possesses.
John the Baptist embodied this message with urgency. He called people to repentance and baptized them in water, a symbol of dying to sin and rising to a new life (Mark 1:4). Jesus affirmed John’s mission, declaring that no one born of women was greater than him (Matthew 11:11). John’s message aligned with the law, yet Jesus also declared that something greater than John had arrived.
The ongoing conflict between sin and God's holiness still puzzles spiritual traditions today. While Pentecostal movements preach death to sin through the Holy Spirit, Roman Catholic monasticism approaches the battle against sin through discipline and a lifelong commitment. Groups such as the Trappists, Carthusians, and Benedictines are among the oldest spiritual communities in the world that continue to teach these traditions today.
Their members make solemn commitments to poverty, chastity, and obedience, intentionally giving up worldly desires. Daily life is marked by prayer, silence, labor, and strict routines that confront human weaknesses head-on. In these communities, sin is not eradicated in a single moment but as a lifelong battle through humility and self-denial.
In an era focused on self-promotion, monasteries offer a different path. They draw in new members, particularly young adults who are weary of contemporary culture. For them, the monastery represents a place where sin is taken seriously, God's holiness is pursued, and the call to “put sin to death” is lived out with unwavering devotion.
Whether it's John's call to repentance and baptism or the rigorous discipline found in monasteries, the wage of sin is death.
The Way of Christ: Forgiveness
Jesus did not come to condemn sin but to overcome it. His ministry demonstrated that forgiveness accomplishes what the law never could. In Luke, a woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, believing that the forgiveness of her sins would free her from its curse. Jesus affirmed her faith:
"Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7
In Leviticus 20, sin was put to death, but under Christ, it is forgiven. Jesus taught that his followers did not need to die repeatedly for sin but rather to “wash their feet” (John 13:10)—to be cleansed of sin without sacrificing life itself. The Book of Mormon affirms this truth:
“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people… that he may blot out their transgressions.” Alma 7
Christ bears death so humanity can be free from the curse of sin and death. However, within Islam, the tradition of Sufism offers a striking contrast. For Sufis, sin is viewed as a profound ailment of pride, and its remedy is extreme: the complete denial of oneself.
Through fasting, obedience to spiritual guides, and ethical purification, disciples seek to uproot sin entirely. This inner jihad—the struggle within—is considered more significant than any external battle. In a time characterized by ambitious pride, Sufism continues to inspire millions by promoting humility and transformation.
The way of Christ and Sufism both point to the same reality—that true freedom is found when pride caves in and forgiveness prevails.
Pick Yourself Up and Walk
Without forgiveness, humanity remains stuck—condemning itself and others, caught in a cycle where sin is put to death repeatedly. If this were fully enforced, none could survive, for to be human is to fall short. However, Jesus provides something beyond what the law could offer, overcoming sin by forgiving it.
A forgiving spirit does not excuse sin. Instead, it removes the curse, preserving the blessing. Leviticus 20 teaches that sin cannot go on. Genesis 22 teaches that a willing spirit gives everything to God. Jesus fulfills both by offering eternal life through a forgiving soul that is willing to yield to his commands.
Despite vast theological differences, they share a common conviction: spirituality often requires a sacrifice. In a world increasingly intolerant of sin, these movements stand out for their refusal to compromise. Whether through Pentecostal worship, monastery fasting, or Sufi strict discipline, the call remains the same: put sin to death, die to self, and embrace change.
These teachings draw people precisely because they are strict and enforce the law that sin demands; however, with Christ's forgiving power, individuals see God's glory and move with it.
So, is it easier to pick yourself up and move on or to forgive yourself and others of their sins? For the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, the choice was clear: "Your sins are forgiven…now go in peace."
