The other day I was thinking of the sins that I don't realize I do. If I were to have the idea in my head that I knew every time I sinned, that would infer that my human flesh was weak ONLY by choice and not by birth. That would suggest that I had some sort of control over my sin and that I was sinless because I had felt that I was making the right choices.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
Well, we sin by choice and we sin by birth. There are sins we know we do, and there are sins we don't know we do. This is another place where the Holy Spirit is needed.
Galatians got me thinking about this topic.
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:6-7,10
What parts of the gospel do you have twisted?
A very, very wise preacher from Knoxville, (one of my personal favorites, actually) advises Christians this: "Preach the gospel to yourself everyday" -Greg Pinkner
I mean really, if we are serious about answering God's call- why wouldn't we? The routine would be there to remind us that we are sinners (helps poke the selfish side of us) and would be fresh in our minds if it comes up in conversation with a non-believer.
I know that as time goes on, society will keep looking at Christians more and more negatively. "Oh, you don't agree with that? I'm not surprised." or "Sigh, you don't agree with anything that I agree with"
And honestly, the Christians who know the Word are going to be judged and scoffed at more than ever before. These Christians don't fall for the "comfort food" that people who limit God and don't know God.. pass out. "Christians are so strict", they'll say.
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:1-5a
I already see this in our society. I already see this in the church. I already see this in myself. But, by firm faith in the Holy Spirit's power we can overcome our fleshly desires. I think that if people can not recognize any of those above sins in themselves, they can at least recognize that every sin's root is "lovers of self".
Now, when non-believers think "sins" are not so bad... what I want to ask them when I look at 2 Timothy.. or even the 10 Commandments...
What good comes from these actions? What benefits?
Even if they do not believe in God. So you love money? Look what that will do to your family. So you are ungrateful? That will get you no where. The Devil makes everyone (saved or not saved) justify actions with ridiculous excuses. And because we are so self-focused.. internally minded... we miss that. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us to see.
So what sins slip behind your back?
What in the Word have you over-looked?
As you ask yourself these questions, ask God to convict you for the sneaky sins. As you notice them, you will only grow.
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