Sin

What is Sin? I was thinking about how we are to ask God to forgive of us of our sins, we must know what the sins are. Have you ever wondered if you are sinning against God, or are you waiting for a feeling of being convicted of our sins?

Yes there are the 10 commandments, but do you think that is all that God has taught us about?
Exodus 20:2-17
The 10 Commandments List, Short Form

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD YOUR God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

In the New Testament what does it say are the greatest things?


Matthew 22:36-40 "TEACHER, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord YOUR God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

If we are not putting God first, is that a sin in the Old or New Testament? It is a sin, when we put ourselves before God, we are saying that God's way is not before our way, we are saying that they are our things, we are coveting the very things that God says to release to Him, but we are holding onto them as if they are ours. I am not meaning to stand on a soap box to preach to anyone, I am expressing what I have learned. If we do not know what is sin, then how can we know to walk free from it, to ask forgiveness for it? We are called to humble ourselves before the one that created us, we are not gods, He is the one true God. 

If you say that you are not doing any of the first, that you have no other gods before you, but you are doing life your way, then you yourself are a god to yourself. Kind of confusing, but if you come before God, then you are making the choice that you are more important than God, your feelings are more important than His, your hurt is more important than Him dying on the cross for you. Do you see how it all ties together? 

When I don't want to surrender my way and I don't want to do it His way, I am sinning against the God that made me, I am saying God I know what you teach me, but it isn't more important than how I feel. It is my time and not Yours, I have the right to do what I want, to say what I want to say and no one has the right to say differently. But isn't all that I just said a sin against God? 

If I say I love as God loves, but can only think of myself am I loving as God really loves? I am lying to myself and to others. When we look at the big picture, we see that we are sinners, we come short of the glory of God, we need God, not just on hard days, but every single day, we need Him more then we can imagine. His grace is sufficient to cover our sins, but we must ask for His forgiveness. I want my slate to be white as snow and that is His promise, but we have to ask God for forgiveness of our bad attitudes, of our putting ourselves first, of lying, of what ever else that we may be doing. God can't wipe our slate clean if we do not confess it as sin and ask Him to forgive us of our sins. I don't know anywhere in the bible that says once we are saved that we do not have to ask Him to forgive us of our wrongs? 

James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

1 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."

What I am saying, is God has said it, we must walk in the truth that He has written for us. There are so many scriptures about forgiveness of sins, about what sins are and how we are to be free from them, but we have to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. Through Him alone we are free, but we have to allow Him to be Lord of our lives, not my way Lord, but Your will be done. Are you allowing God? Is it His way, or is it your own? 

I lived my way for so long, it is hard to surrender to His will, but with God all things are possible. If you can't see what God wants, do you have unforgiveness and sin in your life? 

1 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."

Mark 11:25 "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."

It isn't just about asking God to forgive us, it is asking others as well to forgive us of our wrongs. 

What is God saying to you this Sunday?