When Sin Comes

I John 1:8-2:2 (Msg)

If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.  I write this, dear children, to guide you out of sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus Christ, righteous Jesus. When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

I have a friend at work who is Catholic, and we have at times respectfully discussed the differences in what we believe and how we worship.  One item we have discussed is their practice of confessing sin to a priest.  I am not eager to make a list of my sins much less say them out loud to another person, yet he has indicated that confession is a very meaningful thing to him.  By verbalizing each sin and asking for forgiveness, he examines his life and actions, identifies the things he’s done wrong, asks forgiveness, and commits to avoid repeating the same sin.  He says it feels like having a big burden lifted off his shoulders.  In contrast, I don’t believe that it’s necessary to verbalize my sin to another person, when I ask God to forgive me. 

One thing we fully agree on is that we are imperfect men.  Not evil in the eyes of this world, but still sinners who can’t fool ourselves.  By acknowledging that, I can accept His forgiveness and cleansing. I can allow Jesus in His role of Priest-Friend as the Message version says to intercede with God on my behalf.  All sins past, present, and future (including yours) have been paid for with Jesus’ sacrifice. 

Pastor Ralph Galyon from Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee passed away earlier this year.  He was the pastor who led me to Christ when I was about eight in the living room of our home at 2427 Coker Avenue.  I can remember sitting on my daughter’s bed in Sugar Land when she prayed and asked Jesus into her heart.  I hope someone someday looks back at Haley and remembers her sharing her faith and bringing that person closer to God.  That’s a circle I think we should all aspire to be part of.  The circle of sinners saved by grace to eternal life.