Sermon series: Grace to you
1 John 1:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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Right?
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RIGHT?!
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Oh. I guess not. That makes things sticky doesn't it? I mean, I sin every day, by sheer virtue of getting up in the morning. Some days, I sin with every breath I take and thought that is in my head. That's a heavy load to bear. Frankly, sometimes it's easier to not confess my sins. Never mind that God has seen every sin I've committed before I've committed them from my birth to death, if I don't tell Him, then that means they're not real, right? I...uh...I'm not the only one who operates that way, right? Tell me yes and make me feel better, ok?
Salvation is a wonderful gift. It's the best gift anyone can ever receive. The end. But, salvation doesn't mean that our sin ends. It means we are no longer slaves to sin. It means we have the power (through Christ) to resist the temptation to sin. But it doesn't mean we no longer sin. I think that's one of the biggest incorrect assumptions non-christians make. "Oh, your a Christian. You're perfect right?" Nope. Heck, I probably sin in my sleep.
We mustn't wallow in our sin, because that's almost as unhealthy as refusing to admit them in the first place. But we must admit them. We must confess to God in prayer, and He will continually offer us the sweet grace that comes only through Christ on the cross.
So simple. Yet so hard.
5 comments:
Oh, you are so not the only one that operates that way! I've got blotches on my morning already and I've only been up for an hour. :( I could blame it on kids who disobey and have temper tantrums, but in reality I know better than that. Sigh.
I think the marvelous thing is that while we sin, we have forgivness just waiting for us - we just have to ask.
And even more marvelous is that we don't HAVE to sin! We CAN make it through a day without sin.
It isn't easy, it isn't common, it takes being REALLY REALLY in-tune with God, but it is possible.
That's the great thing about a relationship with Jesus - each and every day He is perfecting us a little more.
Will we reach perfection on this earth? Probably not - but we can get closer each day that we walk with Him, that we confess our sins, that we live through His grace, that we show His love (and therefore become more loving).
It is so hopeful, isn't it? I love the hope.
You're definitely not alone Sandy!
One point MacArthur made was that as believers, we will gradually begin to sin less, with His power. But when we do sin, it will bother us more than it every did, because we will also be growing in awareness of His holiness and the ugliness of sin.
If we have never admitted and dealt with our sin, then it is impossible to be saved. After all, you can't be saved if you never acknowledge you need saving!
And once we are saved, we continue to confess our sin in order to maintain fellowship and relationship with God and fellow believers.
I also loved MacArthur's point that the Greek (I think it was Greek anyway!) word for confess actually means to say in agreement. In other words - we are agreeing with God about the ugliness and reality of our sin.
It's never been easy to me to admit when I am wrong. I don't know if repentance comes naturally to anyone. However, it is encouraging to know that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I listened to Mark Driscoll's sermon on this passage today and really enjoyed it. He holds back no punches that guy.
He says that even when we confess we often try to sugar coat it a bit. We like to couch it was nicer words. For ex - we talk about people having affairs. That's not what God calls it. When you get all dressed up and go to a fancy dinner or ball, that's an affair. You sleep with someone that's not your spouse, that's called adultery. Confess what it actually is. Don't try to make it sound better than what it is. Take it out of the darkness, bring it into the light, and name it what it is. That's confession.
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