Burning Questions:
I am a Christian but i still sin…what’s wrong with me?
Words matter, we all know that. But we also recognize words can mean slightly different things to each one of us.
To un-pack our question today we will look at what we mean when we say “Christian” and “sin”.
To begin, what do we mean when we say “I am a Christian”?
What do you think you know about someone that tells you they are a Christian?
How would you define what it means to be a Christian?
For our understanding today, we need to see being a Christian, as being in a personal, intimate, genuine relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.
This relationship changes everything!
Being a Christian means…
We live Transformed lives
“Whoever claims to live in Him must life as Jesus did”
1 John 2:3-6
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
Being a Christian means…
Transformed relationships with others
1 John 2:9-10
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
Being a Christian means…
A renewed outlook on the world.
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
What do we mean by “sin”?
Greek- Hamartia- To fall short, to miss the mark.
“Sin is not only wrong doing, it is wrong being” N. T. Wright
1 John 1:8
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
“The great swindle of shame is what keeps us away from what we so desperately need, what we long for in our heart of hearts. Forgiveness and reconciliation with Christ”
1 John 3:4-6
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
We cannot with sincerity say that we are serious about our relationship with Christ, while freely choosing to sin.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Not only does God forgive us, but scripture also says he desires to purify, to cleanse our hearts from that sinful nature that causes us to betray him.
So, I am a christian and i still sin…Whats wrong with me?
– There is nothing wrong with you, that is not wrong in every single person. A sinful nature.
– By Grace through Faith in Christ, He longs to forgive you and to cleanse your heart from the nature of sin.