It is good for us to spend time in the Old testament of the bible and be reminded that God has zero tolerance for sin. This is portrayed graphically in his dealings with Israel and Judah, he allowed them to be taken into exile because of their rebellion and sin (2 Kings). We are also exhorted to hate evil (Ps 97:10).

In the new Testament we are told that sin causes spiritual death (Rom 6:23), all people sin (Rom 3:23) and that sin separates us from God. Jesus paid the price for our sins by his sacrificial death (1 Peter 3:18) and won justification for us (Rom 3:24). This simply mean that if we repent, ask his forgiveness and ask him into our life as Lord and Saviour we are forgiven and made just as if we had never sinned. Our sins were washed away by his blood (Rev 1:5), the price was paid and God sees us as righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). To be righteous is to be in right standing with God.

Does this mean God has gone soft on sin? Absolutely not (1 John 1:5). We are told as Christians that we should not go on willfully sinning (1 John 3:6-9). However, we are still flesh and blood and we will sin (1 John 1:8), but if we repent and ask God’s forgiveness, he is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9). To repent is to simply turn from our sins and do what’s right.

The next question is, as Christians, are we soft on Sin? Do we have things in our lives that we wink at or ignore? Well, you know, God knows I get it mostly right but a few minor issues I am sure He can tolerate? God is still black and white on sin and he tells us to take of the old man and put on the new (Eph 4:22-24). That’s all of the old man and all of the new. Let’s not limit God in our lives by ignoring sin. Now don’t get condemned, God knows our hearts (Ps 44:21) and as we desire to be everything he wants us to be, he will provide grace to help us to change (Eph 1:7-9). The apostle Paul never claimed to be perfect (Phil 3:12) and God does not expect us to change overnight. Keep on keeping on, the blessings are amazing.

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In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5 and verse 21 (KJV), we read that: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.  Jesus took our sins upon himself and paid the price for them  that we could be made his righteousness; we are no longer sinners. We were spiritually dead in our sins, we were sinners (Rom 6:23) but Christ won righteousness for us through his sacrifice. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior we come in to righteousness or right standing with God, by grace (Eph 2:8; Rom 3:22; Rom 5:1) and our sins are forgiven (Col 2:13).

But what if as Christians we do sin? We know that we all sin but if we confess our sins God will be quick to forgive us (1 John 1:7-2:2). This does not make us unregenerate sinners again, we are new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17); the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

In his first epistle and chapter 3, the apostle John seems to indicate that we should never sin but study of the Greek structure here shows us that what he really means is that we should not habitually sin as a life style (v 6-9). In chapter 1, John makes it clear that as Christians we will slip and sin but if we ask forgiveness God will forgive us.

As born-again believers we need to allow his word to renew us and allow his Spirit to change us to walk in his ways so that sin becomes more and more foreign to us (Rom 12:2; Ezekiel 36:26-27). Praise God for his love, grace and forgiveness.

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“Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ, our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor 5:6-7; KJV). Leaven or yeast is used here to compare the power of sin with leaven. We have been justified or made righteous in God’s sight, by the sacrifice of Christ at the cross; he redeemed us or paid the price for our sins (Rom 3:24).

But we do still sin (1 John 1:8)?  Just a tiny bit of sin, if it is not rooted out, can cause a huge amount of damage to us and others. A woman added leaven to 3 measures of meal and the whole of the meal became leavened or affected by the yeast (Luke 13:21). Jean makes our bread at home and we calculated that she adds 1 part of yeast for every 320 parts of finished baked bread; that yeast is powerful stuff to be able to cause that whole loaf to rise. Jesus warned of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy; they taught the law but did not obey it (Luke 12:1). They leavened the whole of Israel with their sin. As children of God, sin damages our fellowship with him as there is no sin in God (1 John 1:5). Sin clogs the channels between us and God. Sin also hurts our relationships with each other.

Ask God to show you sin in your life, be quick to repent and ask God’s forgiveness for your sins; he will forgive (1 John 1:9). As we deal with sin in our lives, we can walk closer and closer with God and enjoy more and more of the full life he lives. Don’t get condemned, this is something we all have to grow in; but the results are wonderful. Remember God loves you where you are but he calls you up higher to grow in him. 

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“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fufil all my will” (Acts 13:22-23; KJV). What was it about David that allowed the Lord to say these words about him? David had a great zeal for God (1 Sam 17:45). He was teachable, humble and feared God (Ps 25). David trusted God and had great intimacy with him (Ps 27). David loved to praise his God (Ps 34:1), desired righteousness, (Ps 51) loved God (Ps 63) and prayed and cried out to his heavenly Father (Ps 143:1). As we see in our main text, David was also obedient to the will of God.

David was; however, human and fell into the sins of sexual immorality and even murder in his affair with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11). However, when confronted by Nathan the prophet he repented and God forgave him (2 Sam 12). “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”

We should look to the life and attributes of David, a mighty man of God. We should also be encouraged that God regarded David’s strengths and forgave such great sin. God loves us and will forgive us just as he did David. Be exhorted and encouraged.

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We all sin but we are no longer sinners (1 John 1:8). Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross the price was paid for our sin’s past, present and future (1 Cor 15:3). As born-again Christians God no longer sees us as sinners, he sees us in Christ, forgiven and the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). Righteousness basically means right standing with God. Satan may try to condemn us but we have an Advocate (Rom 8:34), Christ Jesus, who pleads our case before God (1 John 2:1).

As God’s children and members of his kingdom (Col 1:13) we are still tempted to sin and we do sin (1 John 1:8), but the word says that if we repent and ask for forgiveness God is quick to forgive us (1 John 1:9).  Now that’s good news. So, how many times will he forgive us in any given day? Well, we are instructed to forgive our brother 7 time seventy times (Matt 18:22) and God is far more loving and merciful than we are. But brother Norman you don’t know what I have done. God forgave David when he repented after committing adultery and murder (2 Sam 11). Don’t be condemned, look to God our loving and merciful father, humble yourself and ask forgiveness with a truly repentant heart.

 Now, as Christians we should not go on willfully and deliberately sinning, if we do then there is something very wrong as if we are born again, our spirit (conscience) should convict us of sin and in fellowship with God (Rom 2:15). Check yourself; are you truly born again? Have you given your life to the Master? Talk to a mature Christian friend and settle the matter today.

As Christians we should be quick to repent whenever we sin (1John 1:9); sin does not cause us to lose our salvation but it does cloud our fellowship with God, just as in any human relationship (1 John 1:7). Run to your loving father, repent and enjoy unbroken fellowship with him. There is nothing better.

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