What exactly is sin?   For the person who believes the Bible to be the word of God,  sin is breaking God’s law which is a crime against God.  Breaking God’s laws makes every person a criminal, and in God’s court He will judge and sentence the criminal with the punishment due the crime.  One thing for sure,  justice will be served for the consequence of sin.  However a sinner/criminal can be granted a pardon made possible by Jesus, God’s only Son.  Jesus, God’s son, became the sinner’s advocate, taking the punishment for all crimes against God.  So how may a person go about receiving this pardon which was made possible only by Jesus?

     A person MUST NOT DENY the fact that they are a sinner/criminal.  “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (ESV)  Not only do we deceive ourselves, but we do something extremely  grievous- we call God a liar.  “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:10 ESV   The Bible is very clear on the fact that we are all sinners in need of grace and pardon for our crimes.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans  3:23 ESV  

     We must confess to the crimes based upon God’s standards.  “If we confess our sins.” ESV.  There is a promise attached to this in which we will cover in the next point.  Sin is hurtful and offensive to God who created us to be more than one controlled by self serving and rebellious desires.  When we live by our own standards, we usurp the authority of God and  in essence  become our own god which is sin.  We are to have no other gods before Him… that includes ourselves.  “You shall have no other gods before me.” Deuteronomy 20:3 ESV  True confession unto repentance is more than just saying we acknowledge our sin; it is being sorry that we have sinned against God.  “I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.” Psalms 38:18 ESV  When we are sorry for our sins and confess them to God, this is repentance.

    He will forgive and pardon us of our sin /crimes when we confess. “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness” (ESV)  Forgiveness is the ultimate blessing of God made possible by Jesus who took the punishment for our crimes.  Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count sin.  Romans 4:7-8 ESV   Only God by his grace and mercy has the authority to pardon sin and will do so for all those who believe in His only son knowing that there is salvation in no other. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16 ESV …  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 

4:12 ESV……..  JESUS

       May we address sin in our lives, confess them, and live in the forgiveness of God’s grace and mercy.  May His forgiveness be evident in our lives as a testimony to these who do not know him as Savior in order that they may too desire to experience pardon/ forgiveness  from their sin/ crimes against God.  What you believe will determine how you live.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David