Sin, Not Choices

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

1st John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So what is sin? It is the fundamental attitude that says, "I am in charge of my life. I don't need God. I can do whatever I want. If I want to cuss, not respect authority because their 'wrong,' be hateful to people, do whatever I want with my body with whoever I want, be disrespectful to others, and take something from people because I want it. If someone else, like 'Jesus people' don't like it, that's their opinion. It's my life. It's my choice."

That leads to a dangerous point for us. Sin is what keeps us from having a relationship with God. Not having a relationship with God leads us to hell.

So what do we do? Acknowledge sin. Recognize it. Know that our choices separate us from God. Confess it. Get it out in the open. Tell it to God. And let God forgive it.

And God forgives our sins. Jesus died so that we will be forgiven. Forgiveness is an act of God that takes away the consequences of sin and gives us life. Forgiveness happened when Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. Forgiveness is based upon the love of God through what Jesus did so that when we tell God our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse our hearts and lives. Forgiveness is the source of a new attitude. That new attitude starts when we confess our sins. Dear God, lead us to know sin, confess sin, and know Jesus. Amen.