The “in” in “Sin”

The “in” in “sin“.

Yes, it’s part of the word sin.  What we struggle with most seems to be inwardly focused.

• What’s in it for me?
• Adultery starts on the inside, in our hearts and minds.
• Murder also starts on the inside.
• Jealousy, inside
• Pride, inside
• Idolatry inside
• Hate, inside
• Lust, inside
• Prejudice, inside
• Anger, inside
• Greed, inside
• Worrying, inside
• Revenge, inside

In our hearts, in our heads, in our mouths, in our deeds; sin starts in us.

We need help on the inside, we need to let the Holy Spirit work on us from the inside.  For us believers, He’s already in there anyway.  This is the reason why we pray in church that the Holy Spirit transforms and renews our hearts and our minds.  This is such an important prayer because it leads us to repentance.

You can spot people who have an outward focus can’t you?  They are kind, compassionate, considerate, generous, caring, loving, forgiving, patient – as a matter of fact they tend to act like Jesus and they use their gifts of the Spirit in so doing.  Incredible how this all comes together isn’t it?

Let me share this prayer with you which is a gem of traditional worship:

Lord God, grant us your Holy Spirit that we may hear and believe your Word.  Cleanse our minds and renew our hearts that we may live for you here and hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. (Christian Worship, Evening Prayer, page 56)

Isaiah 1:18

This was the scene looking into my backyard on Thanksgiving morning:

 

Remarkable –  Though we are laden with guilt, we are not condemned to everlasting damnation, but God gives and imputes to us perfect righteousness. 

The meaning of justification is abundantly clear:
for God declares the ungodly, 
the guilty, 
to be innocent, 
clean, 
holy, 
and righteous in His sight.  

A Confession of Sins Based on Psalm 51

A Confession of Sins Based on Psalm 51

King David was one horrific sinner. But wow did he know how to confess. What follows is a great Confession of Sins because it comes directly from God’s word (as written by David).

M: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
C: according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
M: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
C: Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
M: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
C: Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
M: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
C: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
M: Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
C: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
M: Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
C: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.
M: Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
C: Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.