The topic of my blog today is one that I have written about previously, however, I feel it is such an important subject for us; it bears repeating.  That topic is sin.  Sin is defined as, "missing the mark, failure, offense, taking the wrong course, and wrongdoing".  Based on that definition then, I say any action or behavior that is in direct opposition to the standards set forth in the Word of God is sin.  Sin breaks our fellowship with God and keeps us from growing in intimacy with Him.  Sadly, for many, we see the sin more easily in other's lives than in our own. Or, judgmentally, we might think, "I am not as bad as they are so, I am okay!"  Here is the thing, we cannot change anyone else.  However, we can and must deal with the sin in our own lives by recognizing it, confessing it , and repenting (turning away) from it.

 We recognize that our nation, the United States of America, has become greatly engrossed in sin.  Many of our national and state leaders are pushing an agenda which is in opposition to God's word and will.  What we must recognize though is that the falling away from the Word and will of God, and compromising with the world has also come into the church as a whole, and to each of us individually. 

 During this time of turmoil, many believers have been standing on and lifting 2 Chronicles 7:14 to the Lord in prayer, looking for God to save and heal our nation.  Let us look at this scripture in more detail.  2 Chronicles 7:14, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  This verse starts with a small but very meaningful word - "If".  The use of this word  indicates that this scripture is conditional.  If the conditions are met, there will be a certain result.  Next, notice that this verse is addressing God's people (those who are believers in Jesus).  "If My people, who are called by My name" It is not talking to all of the people in the nation.  The verse then goes on to tell us what conditions have to be met for the desired result to occur.  The conditions:  God's people must humble themselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from (repent from) their wicked ways.  Finally, if those conditions are met, He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.  You see, it is not only necessary to confess sin, it is also necessary to repent or turn away from it permanently!  Take note, in this verse, repenting of sin does not begin with the nation or the church, it begins with each of us as individuals.

 1 John 1:5-10, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."  Simply put, if we think we do not have sin in our lives, we are deceived.  Friends, the first thing we must do in order to deal with our sin is to recognize that it is there (exists) and that it affects our fellowship with God. Then, verse 9 tells us how to deal with it - confess it to Him.

 I think we could all make a list of what we know to be sin, according to the Scripture.  Included on our lists would be: murder, lust, adultery, stealing, drunkenness, deceit, witchcraft....  Actually, our list could continue on and on with the actions and thoughts we entertain in committing sin.  Look though, at James 4:17, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."  Sin involves not only acts of commission, but also omission.  When we know to do good but do not do it, it is sin.  Then we see in Romans 14:23b, "for whatever is not from faith is sin." If you have scruples about a matter, you should not act contrary to your conscience because to violate our conscience is not acting in faith but is sin.

 Hebrews 12:1, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"  This verse tells us that sin easily ensnares us.

 Sin is a problem which must be dealt with.  The questions we ask then are, "What do I do about it?  What in my life do I need to confess and turn away from?  With the sin that is in the world, how do I respond in a personal way?"  We will look at some scriptures for our guidance.

 Psalm 139:23 and 24 is a great place to begin. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; 24 and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  We give God permission to examine us and reveal what He sees in us.

 Hebrews 4:11-13, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."  Our actions, attitudes and behaviors need to be evaluated or judged according to the scripture, to His Word.  If our conduct, (our lives) do not line up with His standard, we will be found lacking. The Word of God is a great revealer of our sin.

 Psalm: 119:11, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."  This verse encourages us to hide God's word in our hearts, so that when we begin to go in a direction that opposes it, we will be convicted by the Holy Spirit and turn to follow His path.

 Proverbs 4:20-23, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."  His Words are life and they need to be deep in our hearts, however, we need to "keep" out heart with all diligence.

 1 John 1:9 is another conditional verse.  Confessing our sins is a prerequisite to receiving the Lord's forgiveness and cleansing.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

 Then, we must repent or turn away from sin. 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."  Repentance means we accept the part we have played in the disobedience.  It is the turning away from that behavior which leads us to a relationship with Jesus, which produces salvation.

 1 Peter 1:13-16, "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."  God commands that we be holy which means: pure, blameless, separated, and set apart for God.

 Then, Romans 12:1 and 2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Do you see what this verse says to us?  Think about it, the God of the Universe, the God Who created everything, including you, the God Who gave you life, desires to have an intimate relationship with you and has even made the way for it.  There is no righteousness in us apart from Him.  Our reasonable service to the One who gave us everything is to present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, holy, and thus being acceptable to Him!  Then, when we renew our minds, by His Word, we prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God!

 Seeking God in this area of our life, regarding sin, is not optional.  It is very essential.  The world provides constant opportunities for us to sin.  We must constantly be vigilant.  We must allow and receive the conviction of the Holy Spirit to reveal our sin to us; then we must choose to confess and repent from it. 

 We know that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin!  We know that in Him, we have the victory and overcome the world! Be encouraged by 1 John 5:4 and 5, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 

 Also be encouraged from reading Romans 6:1-14, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." In verse 12, the understood subject of the sentence is "You", so, you make decisions which will not allow sin to reign in your body.  According to this verse, sin needs not reign in our body!  We, because of the resurrection power of Christ which works in us, can have dominion over sin and sin shall not have dominion over us!  We are not slaves to sin: we willingly serve righteousness.  We choose to be dead to sin and alive unto God!

 Continue to grow in the knowledge of Him and His word!  Be blessed!

 I would appreciate any questions or comments.