It's Not Just a Mistake — It's Sin

You could talk to a hundred different people, and each one might have a different thought on what is “bad” or what is “good”, what constitutes real “sin” and what’s just a little “mistake”. Most people would probably also tell you that they think they are basically “good”.

When we judge morality by our own feelings and our own sense, we’re likely going to miss the reality of what our thoughts and actions are in the sight of the only One whose judgment ultimately matters – God.

The truth is, no sin is just a “little mistake”. No lie is just a “little white lie”. No feelings of lust, pride, or jealousy are supposed to be “natural”, and they should never be justified.

Sin first entered the world, and more specifically the human heart, when Adam and Eve, the first humans, chose to disobey God. God had given them instructions to protect them against opening themselves up to the evil that was waiting to destroy them. Instead, they allowed themselves to be deceived, and they allowed their lust for power and control over their own lives to supersede the life-giving relationship and perfect purpose they had with their Creator. Now, every descendant after them has been separated from God because of the sin that now invades human nature. We don’t need to do anything to be affected by sin and the spiritual – and eventually physical – death that it brings. It's Not Just a Mistake — It's Sin!

“…through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12).

Recognizing Sin

This status is the same for those who might sin outrightly and know that they are committing sin, as well as for those who think they are basically good. Both are still born into the sin nature; no one can escape that reality. In fact, not even “good” works can make us free from it.

“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

“There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

It is when you can recognize this reality that you’re able to spot the “mistake” that is actually “sin” in your life. Sin that leads to death. Sin that must be dealt with, removed, if you are to live in freedom from its power and to instead receive the eternal life that God wants to give you.

If you don’t recognize this, then you will remain in deception, and under the condemnation that is part and parcel with the existence of sin: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

But there is hope for anyone who confesses their sin and realizes they need to be saved from it: “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

Freedom From Sin’s Control

We are not saved by anything we can do. We are only saved through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), who died to take the punishment of our sin and then rose from the dead to overcome the power of sin in our life. He did this while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). God sent Jesus to give us this gracious opportunity to be forgiven and to receive eternal life (John 3:16).

But with Jesus’ coming did not come a license to live however we wanted. On the contrary, when we trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, we are given the Holy Spirit to empower us to say “no” to sin and to live in victory over it (see Titus 2:11-12).

In fact, because the Holy Spirit lives in you, the standard is much higher – because it is no longer you who lives, but He who lives in you. We are to consistently redirect our hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and give the Spirit full control of everything we do. The Holy Spirit purifies us and makes our lives more directly reflect God and His desire for us. Jesus taught that not only are the acts of murder and adultery wrong, it is equally called sin when we live in anger and lust (Matthew 5:21-30). It all begins with the heart. And that is what Jesus Christ came to fix.

Do you recognize the sin in your life for what it is? Have you confessed that sin to God and trusted in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and cleansing? This faith in the grace of God will assure you of eternal life.