Q&A How does a believer process his or her sin?

Howdy Pastor Dan,

It kinda sounds like you’re saying that we no longer sin “ He no longer convicts us of sins because our sins are forgiven”. I guess, I’m thinking of it this way. When we sin, we now have a perpetual advocate with the Father. Our sins, past , present, and future are not held to our account. Perhaps I am making this distinction because when we break the law of love with one another, the scriptures tell us to own up to it.

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Hey There

Whoa!!! No, we definitely do still sin.   It’s just that the Lord has chosen not to remember them in the same way as before we came to know Christ.   He is not focused on our sins but on our progress. (Hence the “Helper” designation of the Spirit, which I also call “coaching” because it effectively communicates the meaning of “Helper.”)

Coaching involves correction and teaching.   That’s the “rebuke” ( i.e. to tell a fault) and “discipline” (i.e. to train or educate) the Lord refers to in Revelation 3:19. The Lord is always coaching us in living in the truth so we can be “rich and powerful” – in Him, that is. 😊 In His riches and in His power.

As for “owning up when we violate the law of love,” as you know, and you’ve heard me say it many, many times (perhaps it would have been helpful for me to say it again on Sunday, but the sermon would have been 15 minutes longer), when we are assured of His love we LIVE in the truth. We become truth-tellers. We live in a state of confession, not just in deed but in thought and attitude. Where there is no shame or condemnation there is no fear. And where there is no fear there is no need to attempt to “hide.” So we are then free to “confess” which is simply owning up to the truth of where we are.   When we are assured of His acceptance, we don’t need our fig leaves any longer. We become sensitized not only to what we say or do to another person but also to what we are thinking about them. Our confession, under grace, many times begins before we have even outwardly committed the sin. And when we do actually injure another person, our “ask” for forgiveness is free and full and without expectation of any concession on the part of the person against whom we have sinned. It truly is a love-based repentance.

Thank you for your question and you feedback. I REALLY appreciate it. Is this helpful? If not,  let’s go for another lap around the block.

Pastor