01/30/2018
Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but continue to sin? If so, how is it that you sin; is it in the midst of great regret, remorse, tears, and sweating, or freely as if you hold the king’s pardon in your hand and feel immune to penalty? How does Jesus expect us to treat sin once we have come to Him and been healed of it?
“Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."”
John 5:14 ESV
In John 5:14 Jesus had just healed a sick man on the Sabbath. He then says the words that terrify us to this day... “Sin no more,” and the encounter ends. Does he mean this for just this one man, or does he expect us all to “Sin no more?” Just as we begin to console ourselves that this was a single instance, Jesus says it again...
“She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."”
John 8:11 ESV
In this instance Jesus had saved the woman who had committed adultery from a mob that was about to stone her. Then, he tells her the same thing that he told the man he healed... “Go, and from now in sin no more.” Now there is no doubt; he expects each of us to sin no more. We are convicted in our sin, but we also realize our weak nature and propensity for it. Once again we ask ourselves how we can possibly live up to this commandment, and we are terrified at the thought of failure.
Jesus made provision for us with His blood. He died and was resurrected to free us from sin; to separate us from it. The most wonderful thing about His sacrifice is that He doesn’t just dab us once with His blood and then convict us of any subsequent sin that follows, His blood is applied to us continuously, and we hear this in the upper room during the first communion when he says...
“In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."”
1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV
So we have received His blood as an inoculation against sin, and we go back to our lives with the terror of sinfulness abating, in so doing we might even convince ourselves that we can rub sin all over ourselves and wash it off again, and again, as often as we like, but is that what is expected of us? Are we to walk in the darkness of sin without fear or remorse?
“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:6-8 ESV
Yes, it is expected that we might sin again, but, no, if we convince ourselves that we are immune from its ramifications we are living a lie. Living without sin should be our greatest desire. Each day we should rise from slumber and strive with all our might to go into our day and “sin no more”, but if we should slip and fall into the mire of sin, we have the blood of Jesus to wash us clean once again.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:9-10 ESV
Confession, contrition, the sorrow of having sinned, and the tears we cry as we ask for forgiveness. This is how we approach sin after Jesus tells us to “sin no more.” He didn’t suffer and die so that we could fall into anarchy and the chaotic nature of sinfulness, He suffered and sacrificed to cleanse us, and for those occasions when we fail while walking in the light, and trying mightily to obey him.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1 ESV
Jesus calls us by name, and we are His; so how great is your love for Him? Is it great enough that you will “go and sin no more” in good faith, and with an all consuming desire to obey him? Or, is it a sham, and are you attempting to use the gift He offers as a cover for continued unrighteousness?
What is your intent? What is your approach to sin, and the gift of Christ’s blood?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your mercy and grace; thank you for the sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ that I might come before you cleansed of sin, and with a pure heart. Holy Father, I hold the cup of His precious blood in my hand; it is my greatest treasure, and I treat it as a fragile egg that might break at any moment. I revere it Father, and sweat at the thought of failing Him. Strengthen me against the darkness Holy Father, and give me courage as I face the sin that surrounds me every day. You are the focus of my life, and the pinnacle of my desire. In those times when sin overtakes me, witness my sobs of remorse, and hear my pleas before the table of Christ as I beg forgiveness, His absolution. Never let me take your forgiveness for grated, or attempt to use your promise against you. Let my intent always be to serve you, and obey you. When I do sin, let it be my greatest sorrow and regret. Praised be your name Merciful Father, for through your grace alone am I saved, and in the cup of your Son’s precious blood is my hope and faith... the promise righteousness, and of renewed righteousness. Great are you now, and ever more.
Rich Forbes