I used to think God turned His back on me every time I sinned. It was up to me to figure out some way to get Him to turn around.
Here is what I did. I confessed my sin, asked God to forgive me and then hoped He would turn around to face me again. Sadly, I was never sure He ever turned around. If He did, the next sin turned Him back around.
What was really important to me back then was figuring out what I was supposed to do when I sinned. I never really asked the question, “What does God do when I sin?”
According to the Bible, He does not punish us when we sin. Jesus took the punishment we justly deserved. Here is the good news. God has already done something about my sin and your sin.
The writer of Hebrews gives us the full implications of Christ’s death for us. “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (Hebrews 10:17-18).
But what about today? What does God do today when we sin? Here are seven actions God takes on our behalf. (This isn’t an exhaustive list, simply the seven that have been most beneficial in my life. Please add to this list in the comment section.)
- He reminds us of Christ’s death on the cross and the forgiveness we have in Him – “I write to you dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name” (1 John 2:12).
- He assures us that we are children of God — For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15-16).
- He shows us the consequences of our sin, how our actions have affected others and moves us to be reconciled to those we have hurt – “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10). God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).
- He teaches us to say “no” to sin – “It (grace) teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” (Titus 2:11).
- He encourages us to put off the old, and put on the new — You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). (See also Colossians 3:5-14)
- He works all things together for our good – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
- He continues to fulfill His promise to complete the work He began in us – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
Contrary to what most people think, God does not turn His back on us when we sin. He actively loves us and works in us to “will and to act according to His good purpose.” This is what God does when we sin.
Knowing what He does when we sin better equips us to know what we should do when we sin.
In what ways have you seen God work in your life when you have sinned?
1 John 2:1-2
New International Version (NIV)
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
God loves us so much that we finally give up trying to not sin and see God by our trust in God through Son’s finished work, and by this quit sin, being toooo!!!!!!!!!!!! busy to notice whether we do or not, by praising in the Spirit for what God has done
God simply and plainly just love us all, and by this reception, I turned back to know what this love meant, and today Father cleans us all if we will believe
Believe, see, receive
The below verse is exactly what he did for us
Colossians 1:22
New International Version (NIV)
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
loved me and disciplined me for my own good, never outside of me asking though, for I found God will not interfere with free will. But will do in you if you ask, as for example I asked for the fire to be turned on from the Holy Ghost, not understanding what and why he came with fire, and heard one day that it was to burn out one’s dross.
So I asked and Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the fire cleanses out the flesh garbage and we learn as Paul
Philippians 3:7-11
New International Version (NIV)
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
trust, trust, trust, say thank you for our sins taken away, and ask for the understanding in this and learn to trust to say no, by getting busy in his praise and worship band, the busier one is in his praise and worship band, no time for sin.
John 1:29
New International Version (NIV)
John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
1 Cor 11:32
” But when God does judge us, he disciplines(Not punish) us as his own sons, that we may not be involved in the general condemnation of the world.*
Right Jimmy, discipline is not punishment. Punishment is meted out in response to an act of wrong doing, but God does not count our sins against us, and the only punishment for sin is death, yet Jesus assures us we will never die. Rather, discipline is preparation that prepares us to do God’s will.
I am always getting something out of any action I take, good and bad actions. There is no sacrifice for me, but Jesus. I can never sacrifice my own life in anyway as I am always getting something from any and all actions I take. Jesus is my only path to overcome this affliction (sin). Through and with Jesus, I know my wonderful and glorious father will take me through my life and I am transformed. It is hard at times to rest in this knowledge. But, I know and have seen my own transformation enough to know it’s truth.
Jesus told us what God does when we sin:
John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you all things and will remind you of of everything I have said to you.
So Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit, who He sends to us, who makes us alive in Christ thus saved, will teach us truth. For example:
Hebrews 10:15-18 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. first he says:”This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds.:
Then he adds:”Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
So the Holy Spirit, who Jesus sent to live in us, reminds us that God does not remember our sins and that there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.
Hebrews 9:22 …………and without the shedding of blood, (sacrifice), there is no forgiveness.
Without sacrifice there is no forgiveness, there is no longer any sacrifice, therefore there is no longer any forgiveness.
In fact the Word of God tells us that if you do not believe that the blood of Jesus paid for all of your sins past, present and future, then you do not believe in Jesus and are still condemned.
Hebrews 10:26-27 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
So if God remembers our sins no more, what is this verse talking about?
John 16:7-9 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away,the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because people do not believe in me;
Jesus tells us that sin is not what we think it is, it is not believing in him. Anyone seeking forgiveness after receiving the knowledge of truth is demonstrating that they do not believe in Jesus, or as the bible puts it:
Hebrews 10:29 How much more severely does a man deserve to be punished……….who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them……
The blood of Jesus was shed to forgive the world their sins leaving only the sin of not believing in Jesus that must be repented of, (change your mind about). This warning in Hebrews identifies one of the characteristics of someone that does not believe in Jesus as someone that does not believe that his blood did away with their sin once and for all.
However, if you are such a person, God will save you as well, once you stop rejecting the Son of God.
Thank you Bob for acting on God’s call to you of your ministry of encouraging your brothers.
Time and time again, your words help me.