1 John 1:8-10 – If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Recently someone challenged my faith because the person said that they have heard me say that I sometimes sin. The person said that people who sin are not Christians. The person said that If we are really truly born-again then we no longer sin. Honestly I was taken aback. I knew that this person had wrong ideas about the faith, but this was totally off. The above verses pre-suppose that during this life on earth we all will continue to struggle with sin of one sort or another. If I were to say that I don’t sin then I would either be a liar, deluded, or both and that statement would be in contradiction to the above verses.
Should my temper unnecessarily flare up, as it sometimes does, and I have said to never allow ones temper to flare up, then I may be accused of being a hypocrite. Yet my words may be that we should try to never be unjustly angry, but that is a goal and process which the Lord builds in us. So know that I know I sin, in a variety of ways. So am I a hypocrite if I say to strive to not sin but then sin? No, I have said what is in the Word and I strive every day to not sin, and yet I know I am a sinner who only strives to not let the sure sin within me reign. (Romans 6:12) I have the same lament as Paul the Apostle in Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Yet I am saved by the grace of God through Jesus our Savior. Apostle Paul admitted he still sometime sinned. I still sin, but I know the Lord helps me to daily, increasingly, overcome it. Yet, in this flesh “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19) I also, as Paul did, I cry out “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24) And the sin I sometimes do would make me crazy if not for the sure hope “Thanks be to God, who delivers me though through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)
Family and Friends, the miracle of God’s love to save us shines all the more brightly because He knew we could not stop sinning during this worldly life and yet He has loved us still. Not that He desires us to sin, but the fact that we continue to sin, and yet His love is stronger than our sins, makes the light of His glory shine brighter. Speaking as a man, we are not easy for a righteous God to love. But praise God He is not a man! Let us not be anthropomorphic in our thoughts of God, and thereby dishonor Him. He loves imperfect us. Oh how great is our God! Let us praise our Hero, our Lord, our great and wondrous Savior Jesus. Yes, be thankful and praise Him who made the way to go home, which is our great hope that Jesus gave us. (John 14:15) Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.