When I was young I truly believed I was without sin. How could I be categorized with those who murdered, robbed, and committed adultery? After all I never cheated on a test but only showed my test to my friends to help them out…and I merely stole the unwanted coins from the top of the dresser without asking…and I only gossiped about people who were not nice! I had a rather lengthy list justifying why I should have a ticket to heaven as I attended Sunday school regularly, sang in the choir, participated in service projects through the church, and was never shy to pray out loud when presented with an opportunity. The day the Holy Spirit confronted me and revealed a glimpse of my wicked heart and reminded me that it is only by faith that I was saved, the self-righteous image I had about myself shattered. I realized that even I, in all my “goodness,” needed a savior and would perish without the mercy and blood of Jesus Christ.
I contended with the verse in 1 John 1:8, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”How can a young child be called sinful? God revealed that to me when I became a mother. I realized that children do not need to be taught how to disobey, or how to throw a tantrum to get what they want and even newborn babies know how to scream at the top of their lungs until they get milk or a new diaper! A child’s goals or desires are never to put the need of the parents or others first but satisfy oneself.
To recognize the sin in us, we really need to understand the person of Jesus, who gave of Himself as an atoning sacrifice so that the whole world can be saved (1 John 2:2). In verse 9 in 1 John 1, He gives us the freedom to confess and promises us “purification from all unrighteousness.” Oh, to feel cleansed and released from all the bondages of sin, that is living out the faith of His Word in us as we are reminded in verse 10. So lets draw near to Jesus this Lenten season and intimately confess our sins and be filled with the word of God.
For Reflection:
- When did you first come to realize your true sinfulness? How did you respond? How has the truth of 1 John 1:8 and the promise of 1 John 1:9 impacted your relationship with God?
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