The Danger of Unrepentant Sin, Part 7

The Danger of Unrepentant Sin, Part 7
Friday, December 23, 2022 by Dr. James Walraven

How do we become free from the sin that so easily entangles us?

There are three main steps (depending on the nature of the sin additional actions may be required): confess it, ask God for forgiveness (and those you’ve wronged), and repent.

1 John 1:8–10 (NAU): “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

First off, to deny our sin is an act of self-deception, a lie. Second, God will forgive us our sin, but note the condition: we must confess it. Third, once we confess it, God cleanses us.

One may ask at this point: “What about a sin we’ve committed that has escaped our notice, something we’re not yet aware of?” As Leviticus 4:13–35; 5:2–13 make clear, while we become guilty when we commit the sin, we are to deal with it when we become aware of it. We don’t have to live under the condemnation of Satan’s accusation regarding possible unconfessed sin. God deals with us graciously: can you imagine how we’d respond if God were to reveal every sinful aspect of our lives all at once? We couldn’t handle it.

The real trouble comes when we deliberately choose to live in ongoing sin, where we refuse to confess the action as sin, refuse to repent, and therefore are not forgiven for it. We see something of that in Tillich’s rejection of the Bible as he was dying.

What does it mean to repent? Repent (μετανο?ω metanoeo): to change one’s mind; it involves regret, sorrow, and a change of heart regarding God; in essence to turn around and go in the opposite direction; especially regarding one’s sin. We stop doing what is wrong and start to do what is right. We go in the opposite direction. As sin can involve failing to do what is right, to repent in this case would mean to start to do what is right instead of doing nothing.

On a human level, other actions may be required. If our sin involved wronging others, we likely need to go them and ask their forgiveness. Depending on the nature of the sin, outside help may be needed to assist in breaking habitual patterns, and in some extreme cases even potentially time jail time. Part of acknowledging our sin and repentance is owning up to the consequences of our choices.

We tend to prefer to blame others for our sin, to make excuses for it, to justify it, but that is not biblical repentance. Biblical repentance involves taking responsibility for our choices, actions, and even thoughts (see Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew). Doing that is hard. But what is the result? God cleanses us from all unrighteousness. All means all. We enjoy the clean feeling after taking a shower; how much more after having been cleansed by God from our sin?

During this Advent season, as we prepare for the joy of Christ’s birth, let us confess our sin, repent, and get back in right relationship with God!

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