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We Often Have A Problem With Sin That We Don’t Know We Have

We just got our front door fixed. That may not seem like a big deal except we didn’t know it was broken! We purchased a new screen door and when Tom came to install it he noticed that the door wasn’t plumb. I’m not talking about the color although it wasn’t that either. The front door had not been installed properly and the sides were not vertical. Tom asked if we noticed that the door was difficult to open and close. Frankly I hadn’t noticed. I tried it and sure enough he was right. Then he asked if we wanted it fixed at the same time he installed the screen door. My answer was “Absolutely!” Our problem with our front door is kind of like our problem with sin. Sin is when God says something is broken in our lives. It can be in our lives and we don’t even notice it. But it’s always destructive. At first it bothers us but after a while we get used to it and go on with it as part of our life.

Definition of Sin

According to 1 John 3:4 sin is lawlessness. It’s breaking God’s law. That’s it. If God says don’t do it and we do it, it’s sin. It is so simple a child can understand. Yet we as grown-ups make it complicated. We explain our sin so that it seems less black and white. We justify our sin by saying things like this:
  • “Oh, it wasn’t that bad! It was just a little sin.”
  • “I don’t consider that stealing, everyone does it.”
  • “It’s not sin if no one gets hurt.”
  • “It's okay to talk about people. I heard the pastor do it!”
Whether it is what some might call a little lie or cheating on your time-card or expenses it is sin. Our hearts learn to live with sin. God doesn’t. [Tweet "Our hearts learn to live with sin. God doesn’t."] The first thing that goes when we sin is our joy and peace. We grieve the Spirit when we sin and He no longer fills us with His good desires Ephesians 4:30.

Acknowledging our Sin

My friend Tom is going to like this, although he knows enough to not let it go to his head. In my illustration about our front door, Tom is like the Holy Spirit. There are times when the Holy Spirit will point out something that’s broken in our life, when we’ve sinned. Each time He does we have a choice as to whether we are going to keep living with a part of our life broken or if we’re going to fix it. There is nothing easier than for a Christian to fix a problem with sin. That’s because Jesus already fixed it when He died to pay for our sins. What the Father wants us to do is acknowledge the sin, to agree with Him it’s wrong. That’s what confession is.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

If you don’t have joy today the first thing to look for is sin. When you know you’ve sinned acknowledge it by agreeing with God it is sin and thank Him for forgiving you because Jesus already paid for your sin. Soon your joy will be back! [Tweet "There is nothing easier than for a Christian to fix a problem with sin."] Do you have a question or comment? Please leave it below.
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Ward Cushman

My journey of faith started when I was nine years old when I realized that Jesus died and rose again to pay for my sins. At the age of thirteen I felt the call of God on my life for ministry.

I have been fortunate to work in the marketplace for over ten years and in full-time Christian ministry for over thirty years.

My passion is to teach God's Word in such a way that it is easy to understand and so that God uses it to bring about life change in those who hear it.

It is my greatest joy to see God work through me to produce fruit for His glory!