Getting Honest about Sin

Sin is a topic that many people just don’t want to talk about.

Those who do not follow Jesus might joke about how they are sinners, while others claim they are good and kind people who don’t really do many bad things.

Those of us who do believe in Jesus, on the other hand, may feel it is unnecessary to mention or consider past or present sin in their lives or the lives of others. It’s uncomfortable. It’s embarrassing. God loves us, so what's the big deal?

The reality and severity of our sin is the reason that Jesus died for those same sins. We may recognize the collective sin of the world, but have a harder time taking personal responsibility.

But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities.The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

And one of my favorite verses, Romans 5:8:

But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus was the only One Who could pay for our sins, and He did it willingly because He is good, and because He loves us. It wasn’t because we were mostly good or deserved His love in any way. This makes His love more amazing. Romans 5 is about this very thing, and you can find the TBE episode about it here.

Now I am not saying that we should constantly think about our past sin or live in guilt. Jesus died for those sins - and when we confess them - or admit them to God, He forgives them. He is full of mercy, and died to take our sin away. But when we realize what our sin cost Jesus, our love for Him should be magnified because of what He has done for us.

To admit our sin takes humility. It declares that we need God. We need a Savior. Some seem to want the blessings of God, but still believe that somehow their sins are not serious, as bad as someone else’s, or even something to consider at all.

Instead of admitting sin and turning from it, some will try to add "good" things to their lives as a substitute for honestly admitting and getting rid of sin in their own lives.

A remodeling project in my house got me thinking about this.

I’ve been looking forward to remodeling my master bathroom since we moved in nearly 9 years ago. It was a beautiful time capsule of 1993. Masculine, blue-striped wallpaper, a red heat lamp (that makes me feel like a lizard), and my favorite part, the window directly in front of the toilet. It’s always nice to see what the neighbors are up to when you’re just sitting there.. or not. Things had to change.

Overall, the bathroom had it’s minor flaws. It was outdated, but that’s not a big deal. The real problem was what was hiding beneath the facade of a decent room. As we pulled up the layers, we realized that the bathroom had problems beneath the surface.

When the bathroom was remodeled in the 90’s, the leaks weren’t fixed. They were covered. The slow drips were rotting the boards underneath where no one could see. It wasn’t noticeable at first, but slowly, each tiny drip caused the wood beneath to blacken and rot.

Now it’s time to truly fix the problem, not just hide it under a fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper, which is now in style again for some reason. The first step was to expose the problem. Then the problem will be removed. Boards will be cut away, the pipes will be adjusted, and waterproofing material will be used. It’s the most boring part of the remodel. No one will see the result hidden in the floor and walls. But if left undone, the bathroom will eventually become useless, or worse, hazardous.

It’s the same way in our lives. If we allow sin to go unchecked, unnoticed, or even celebrated in our hearts, where no one but God sees, devastating problems will result.

Romans 6:11-14 explains how we should think about sin.

Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.

Sin should be taken seriously, not just covered up. Here are some step to take based on these verse.

1. Recognize it.

Even though it is not comfortable to think about our own sins and wrong we have done and maybe are still doing, we have to be honest. How can we consider ourselves dead to sin if we don’t admit that we are guilty of it? Thank Jesus that He has covered our sins with his life, and we don’t have to cover them up. As we realize the gift that Jesus has given to us, our love for Jesus will grow, and we won’t want to hold onto our sin.

Instead of protecting ourselves from the shame of sin, get it out in the open with God. Tell Him about it - and thank Him for His love for you!

2. Get rid of it.

Something that is dead does not have the ability to do anything anymore. That is how we want to think about our own desire to sin. As we are consumed by the love of God, we will be alive to God and the things He wants for us. It is something we have to choose. Before knowing God, our lives were consumed by sin, and the things we wanted to do. This is a new way of living, and only God can give us the power.

Will the desire to sin immediately go away? Maybe. But for many, it might not be that easy. We still have habits, lusts, and the same body that we were living in before we met Jesus. But now we have power to make the choice, and refuse to obey sin. It may take work and discipline, but Jesus is with us every step of the way.

3. Experience true freedom.

When we cover our sins, we are still aware of them. It’s exhausting. But when we are honest with God, accepting His grace, and giving our life to honor God instead of sin, we will experience freedom. This is true peace, living in the light of God’s grace.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9

Questions: Have you ever tried to cover up your sin? What was the result?