Sin & Repentance, 24 February 2019
25 02 19 Filed in: Sermons | Back to Basics
Sin & Repentance
Series—Back to Basics
Romans 7:15-8:2
Big Idea: Following Jesus would be easy if it wasn’t for sin…but it is possible.
Throughout the month of February, we’ve been going Back to Basics. We began by looking at why we exist, why First Alliance Church was started more than 131 years ago by Albert Benjamin Simpson.
In week two, we looked at two of my four prayers for First Alliance Church: passion and unity. Last week, we examined the other two prayers I have been praying since my first day as your pastor: direction and protection. Jesus is our Senior Pastor, our leader, and we want to know and obey His will and direction for our individual lives and this local church, our church, His church. We also presented the reality of a real enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy and why we pray, “Deliver us from evil.”
The subject of protection is a great tie-in to our topic today on sin and repentance. If it weren’t for sin, we’d have no problems in our world. It’s virtually impossible to even imagine! A temptation-free planet without satan and demons would seem to be like playing basketball without an opponent. It would be easy.
Unfortunately, sin is real, and we all succumb to temptation. Even Paul, the writer of much of the New Testament of the Bible, was far from perfect. In fact, he once said,
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)
This is the leader of the early church and he’s the worst of sinners? Where does that leave you and me? That’s our focus this morning—sin and what to do about it.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: sin is not a pleasant subject. It’s not a word we often hear outside the church, yet the word appears more than 900 times in the Bible.
What is sin?
There are two meanings for the word sin:
1) a sin from a human perspective; and
2) a sin from God’s perspective.
Consider the first two Merriam-Webster definitions. Merriam-Webster’s first definition of sin:
a. an offense against religious or moral law
b. an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible - it's a sin to waste food
c. an often serious shortcoming; fault
The first definition is the common definition. By this definition, a sin is a violation of some specific law or expectation: do not murder, do not steal, do not abuse animals, etc. Using this definition, most people can keep from sinning most of the time.
Sin can be viewed from a human perspective.
Sin can be viewed from God’s perspective.
Merriam-Webster’s second definition involves much more of our lives:
a. transgression of the law of God
b. a vitiated (corrupted) state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God
So what is God’s Law? We could go to the 10 Commandments. We could examine the 613 Jewish Commandments. Or we could jump to Jesus’ summary of the entire Law. When asked the most important of the commandments,
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
If you think that you have recently lived up to these, then you are deceiving yourself. I know of no person who lives up to either of these laws – ever. We are all sinners continually. Think about this past week and the sins you have committed…or those sins of omission. How have you not loved God? How have you not loved your neighbor?
If you’re struggling to think of any sins, perhaps pride is the first thing you need to confess. Jesus’ close friend John wrote,
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8).
I’ve mentioned this verse on more than one occasion, partly because some churched people are unaware of their sins.
We all sin.
I don’t mean that just in the past tense. I mean even if you’ve attended church for decades, taught Sunday School for generations, memorized half the Bible, and given thousands of dollars to domestic and global missions, you’ve not yet reached perfection. If you don’t believe me, ask the person sitting beside you!
The remarkable thing about Paul—likely the writer of Romans and much of the New Testament of the Bible—is how he viewed himself not just as a sinner, but the worst of sinners. Even though he was mature, self-controlled, educated, and respected, he continued to struggle with sin.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:15-20)
Does this sound like a mature Christian or a new believer? Paul’s writing in the present tense. This is arguably the greatest leader in the early church!
I think this may be the most frustrating passage of literature ever written! Do you feel the tension?
Actually, there’s more!
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. (Romans 7:21-23)
This is that war between God and satan, between good and evil, between right and wrong. This is why we pray for protection…from temptation, from evil, from hatred, from division, from sin.
All humans have an innate or inherited sinfulness. America’s first textbook, The New England Primer taught this doctrine with the simple poem: “In Adam’s fall – We sinned all.” I’m not sure how many public school textbooks have such statements today!
Two chapter back in Romans 5, Paul writes,
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)
Sin against God is very serious. Paul obviously thought so. Perhaps we too often compare ourselves to others.
“I’m not perfect, but at least I didn’t kill anyone like that guy on tv.”
“I pay my taxes. I’m a good person.”
If you’re like me, your favorite teachers are or were those who graded on a curve. You might get an A even if you would’ve earned a B or C on a straight scale.
We’re accustomed to imperfection. Baseball players get three strikes before they’re called out. The best basketball players miss about half of their shots.
Nobody’s perfect, right?
But God’s standard is perfection. 100%. Jesus said,
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Have you “loved God with your whole heart” today?
Have you displayed selfless love to everyone you encountered today?
If not, you are a sinner.
Can you join with Paul, one of the most important Christians ever, in saying,
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:24)
Most of you know the good news in this passage.
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25a)
We’re all about Jesus because Jesus is all about us. He gave very life for us, to deliver us from the death and penalty of our sins. If you’re good enough to go to heaven when you die, Jesus was an idiot for enduring crucifixion!
But Jesus didn’t just come and die so we could go to heaven when we die. He came so we could experience heaven before we die. Heaven is where God is, and Jesus wants to be with us now. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God lives within every believer, but for many, that Spirit lies dormant. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, confessing our sins and surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit to change us, to sanctify us, to make us more like Jesus. Paul continues,
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. (Romans 7:25b)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
Because we all sin, we all need forgiveness.
I’m afraid too many people think all they need to do is pray a prayer, believe in a historical Jesus, and never worry about their sin.
Jesus’ invitation was never, “Pray a prayer.” It was, “Follow me.” It was, “Love God and love your neighbor.” This is where we all fall so short. This is where Paul failed, too.
We all must repent. Peter, another one of Jesus’ best friends, said,
… “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
Repentance means to turn. It means to do a 180. It means to change. It’s both an initial step in following Jesus as well as an ongoing process of becoming like Jesus.
By the way, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.” Baptism is an outward demonstration of inward repentance. It’s going public with your faith. It is a repeated command of scripture. If you haven’t been baptized and you have accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow him, I’d love to talk with you about getting baptized. It’s arguably the greatest possible celebration our church family can possibly experience.
The initial decision to follow Jesus is so important, making him Savior. But that’s the beginning, not the end.
Jesus can be our Savior, but he must also be our LORD.
The reason so many Christians don’t look like Jesus is because Jesus is not their LORD. They have accepted theological truths, but have never fully surrendered to Jesus.
Two weeks ago when talking about passion, I said if you’re truly passionate for God, prove it! Prove it with your money. Prove it with your time. Prove it with your life.
I get so frustrated with people wearing crosses around their neck and acting nothing like Jesus.
I get so frustrated with people putting fish on the back of their cars or calling themselves Christians and acting nothing like Jesus.
And yes, like Paul, I get frustrated with my own life when I see sin invading my life.
That’s when repentance is necessary. Remember, repentance means to turn. It’s about change. It’s not just saying I’m sorry, but it’s actually changing. It’s confessing, yes, but then it’s surrendering to the Holy Spirit, asking for Jesus to be LORD.
Judas had remorse for betraying Jesus, but not Godly repentance (Matthew 27:3).
Paul said,
I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)
Both King Saul and King David were famous, powerful leaders in the Old Testament. Both were sinners, like all of us. When confronted with his sin, Saul made excuses (1 Samuel 15:30-31). When confronted by Nathan, David immediately said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13). Then, David wrote,
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)
That’s more than confession; that’s repentance.
That’s more than, “I’m sorry.” It’s, “I want to change.”
True repentance also means making amends, forgiving others, and being merciful. Following Jesus is not just about loving God. It also means loving others.
If we are truly repentant, we will experience forgiveness.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:11-12)
We will also become the person God created us to be, the restored masterpiece.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
But it’s a process. Each day we are to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Each day we are to confess our sins and acknowledge how we have fallen short of the mark of perfection modeled by Jesus. Each day we are to experience more of God’s unmerited favor, His grace.
The late Dallas Willard wrote,
Consumer Christianity is now normative. The consumer Christian is one who utilizes the grace of God for forgiveness and the services of the church for special occasions, but does not give his or her life and innermost thoughts, feelings, and intentions over to the kingdom of the heavens. Such Christians are not inwardly transformed and not committed to it.
Paul understood this, calling himself the worst of sinners. We are all in need of God’s grace, not merely for our salvation, but for our sanctification, our daily journey to follow Jesus.
Credits: I’m grateful for the research and assistance of Doug Oliver.
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
Series—Back to Basics
Romans 7:15-8:2
Big Idea: Following Jesus would be easy if it wasn’t for sin…but it is possible.
Throughout the month of February, we’ve been going Back to Basics. We began by looking at why we exist, why First Alliance Church was started more than 131 years ago by Albert Benjamin Simpson.
In week two, we looked at two of my four prayers for First Alliance Church: passion and unity. Last week, we examined the other two prayers I have been praying since my first day as your pastor: direction and protection. Jesus is our Senior Pastor, our leader, and we want to know and obey His will and direction for our individual lives and this local church, our church, His church. We also presented the reality of a real enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy and why we pray, “Deliver us from evil.”
The subject of protection is a great tie-in to our topic today on sin and repentance. If it weren’t for sin, we’d have no problems in our world. It’s virtually impossible to even imagine! A temptation-free planet without satan and demons would seem to be like playing basketball without an opponent. It would be easy.
Unfortunately, sin is real, and we all succumb to temptation. Even Paul, the writer of much of the New Testament of the Bible, was far from perfect. In fact, he once said,
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15)
This is the leader of the early church and he’s the worst of sinners? Where does that leave you and me? That’s our focus this morning—sin and what to do about it.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: sin is not a pleasant subject. It’s not a word we often hear outside the church, yet the word appears more than 900 times in the Bible.
What is sin?
There are two meanings for the word sin:
1) a sin from a human perspective; and
2) a sin from God’s perspective.
Consider the first two Merriam-Webster definitions. Merriam-Webster’s first definition of sin:
a. an offense against religious or moral law
b. an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible - it's a sin to waste food
c. an often serious shortcoming; fault
The first definition is the common definition. By this definition, a sin is a violation of some specific law or expectation: do not murder, do not steal, do not abuse animals, etc. Using this definition, most people can keep from sinning most of the time.
Sin can be viewed from a human perspective.
Sin can be viewed from God’s perspective.
Merriam-Webster’s second definition involves much more of our lives:
a. transgression of the law of God
b. a vitiated (corrupted) state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God
So what is God’s Law? We could go to the 10 Commandments. We could examine the 613 Jewish Commandments. Or we could jump to Jesus’ summary of the entire Law. When asked the most important of the commandments,
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
If you think that you have recently lived up to these, then you are deceiving yourself. I know of no person who lives up to either of these laws – ever. We are all sinners continually. Think about this past week and the sins you have committed…or those sins of omission. How have you not loved God? How have you not loved your neighbor?
If you’re struggling to think of any sins, perhaps pride is the first thing you need to confess. Jesus’ close friend John wrote,
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8).
I’ve mentioned this verse on more than one occasion, partly because some churched people are unaware of their sins.
We all sin.
I don’t mean that just in the past tense. I mean even if you’ve attended church for decades, taught Sunday School for generations, memorized half the Bible, and given thousands of dollars to domestic and global missions, you’ve not yet reached perfection. If you don’t believe me, ask the person sitting beside you!
The remarkable thing about Paul—likely the writer of Romans and much of the New Testament of the Bible—is how he viewed himself not just as a sinner, but the worst of sinners. Even though he was mature, self-controlled, educated, and respected, he continued to struggle with sin.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:15-20)
Does this sound like a mature Christian or a new believer? Paul’s writing in the present tense. This is arguably the greatest leader in the early church!
I think this may be the most frustrating passage of literature ever written! Do you feel the tension?
Actually, there’s more!
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. (Romans 7:21-23)
This is that war between God and satan, between good and evil, between right and wrong. This is why we pray for protection…from temptation, from evil, from hatred, from division, from sin.
All humans have an innate or inherited sinfulness. America’s first textbook, The New England Primer taught this doctrine with the simple poem: “In Adam’s fall – We sinned all.” I’m not sure how many public school textbooks have such statements today!
Two chapter back in Romans 5, Paul writes,
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)
Sin against God is very serious. Paul obviously thought so. Perhaps we too often compare ourselves to others.
“I’m not perfect, but at least I didn’t kill anyone like that guy on tv.”
“I pay my taxes. I’m a good person.”
If you’re like me, your favorite teachers are or were those who graded on a curve. You might get an A even if you would’ve earned a B or C on a straight scale.
We’re accustomed to imperfection. Baseball players get three strikes before they’re called out. The best basketball players miss about half of their shots.
Nobody’s perfect, right?
But God’s standard is perfection. 100%. Jesus said,
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
Have you “loved God with your whole heart” today?
Have you displayed selfless love to everyone you encountered today?
If not, you are a sinner.
Can you join with Paul, one of the most important Christians ever, in saying,
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:24)
Most of you know the good news in this passage.
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:25a)
We’re all about Jesus because Jesus is all about us. He gave very life for us, to deliver us from the death and penalty of our sins. If you’re good enough to go to heaven when you die, Jesus was an idiot for enduring crucifixion!
But Jesus didn’t just come and die so we could go to heaven when we die. He came so we could experience heaven before we die. Heaven is where God is, and Jesus wants to be with us now. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God lives within every believer, but for many, that Spirit lies dormant. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, confessing our sins and surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit to change us, to sanctify us, to make us more like Jesus. Paul continues,
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. (Romans 7:25b)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)
Because we all sin, we all need forgiveness.
I’m afraid too many people think all they need to do is pray a prayer, believe in a historical Jesus, and never worry about their sin.
Jesus’ invitation was never, “Pray a prayer.” It was, “Follow me.” It was, “Love God and love your neighbor.” This is where we all fall so short. This is where Paul failed, too.
We all must repent. Peter, another one of Jesus’ best friends, said,
… “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
Repentance means to turn. It means to do a 180. It means to change. It’s both an initial step in following Jesus as well as an ongoing process of becoming like Jesus.
By the way, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized.” Baptism is an outward demonstration of inward repentance. It’s going public with your faith. It is a repeated command of scripture. If you haven’t been baptized and you have accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow him, I’d love to talk with you about getting baptized. It’s arguably the greatest possible celebration our church family can possibly experience.
The initial decision to follow Jesus is so important, making him Savior. But that’s the beginning, not the end.
Jesus can be our Savior, but he must also be our LORD.
The reason so many Christians don’t look like Jesus is because Jesus is not their LORD. They have accepted theological truths, but have never fully surrendered to Jesus.
Two weeks ago when talking about passion, I said if you’re truly passionate for God, prove it! Prove it with your money. Prove it with your time. Prove it with your life.
I get so frustrated with people wearing crosses around their neck and acting nothing like Jesus.
I get so frustrated with people putting fish on the back of their cars or calling themselves Christians and acting nothing like Jesus.
And yes, like Paul, I get frustrated with my own life when I see sin invading my life.
That’s when repentance is necessary. Remember, repentance means to turn. It’s about change. It’s not just saying I’m sorry, but it’s actually changing. It’s confessing, yes, but then it’s surrendering to the Holy Spirit, asking for Jesus to be LORD.
Judas had remorse for betraying Jesus, but not Godly repentance (Matthew 27:3).
Paul said,
I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. (Acts 26:20)
Both King Saul and King David were famous, powerful leaders in the Old Testament. Both were sinners, like all of us. When confronted with his sin, Saul made excuses (1 Samuel 15:30-31). When confronted by Nathan, David immediately said, “I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13). Then, David wrote,
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10)
That’s more than confession; that’s repentance.
That’s more than, “I’m sorry.” It’s, “I want to change.”
True repentance also means making amends, forgiving others, and being merciful. Following Jesus is not just about loving God. It also means loving others.
If we are truly repentant, we will experience forgiveness.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:11-12)
We will also become the person God created us to be, the restored masterpiece.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)
But it’s a process. Each day we are to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Each day we are to confess our sins and acknowledge how we have fallen short of the mark of perfection modeled by Jesus. Each day we are to experience more of God’s unmerited favor, His grace.
The late Dallas Willard wrote,
Consumer Christianity is now normative. The consumer Christian is one who utilizes the grace of God for forgiveness and the services of the church for special occasions, but does not give his or her life and innermost thoughts, feelings, and intentions over to the kingdom of the heavens. Such Christians are not inwardly transformed and not committed to it.
Paul understood this, calling himself the worst of sinners. We are all in need of God’s grace, not merely for our salvation, but for our sanctification, our daily journey to follow Jesus.
Credits: I’m grateful for the research and assistance of Doug Oliver.
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.