The world’s religions have been seeking the forgiveness of sins for millennia. Before my trip to India last month, I heard the news of people being trampled to death at a Hindu festival where over 100 million people had gathered to bathe in a river in order to have their sins forgiven.
“At least 30 people have been killed and scores injured in crowd crushes at the Kumbh Mela festival, Indian police have confirmed, as vast numbers of people went to bathe at one of the holiest sites of the Hindu gathering. Tens of millions of people flocked to the northern state of Uttar Pradesh to immerse themselves at the sacred confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers on one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu festival.”1
Sadly, the 30+ Hindus who were trampled to death died in their sins, and those who made it into the waters came out just as sinful as they went in. The Bible is clear that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” of sins. (Hebrews 9:22) The core doctrine of the Christian faith is that only the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross can wash away our sins: “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28) and “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
No river on earth can wash away a person’s sins; no sacrifice or ritual can cleanse a person from their unrighteousness – only the blood of Jesus can do that. No matter how much you’ve sinned or how big or bad you think your sin may be, always remember this: nothing is more powerful than the blood of Jesus! His blood can wash away any sin. It was a promise that God made and fulfilled through His Son’s new covenant – “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Forgiveness Of or Freedom From?
Having our sins forgiven by our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, is the most wonderful thing ever, but, as the title of this article suggests, most people find themselves in this vicious cycle of sinning, repenting, and repeating. If the power of Jesus and His blood is so great to forgive all our sins, shouldn’t it be powerful enough to take away our sins as well?
Growing up in a culture heavily influenced by the Southern Baptist community, I found that it was common for a Christian to pray, “Jesus, please forgive us of our sins” on a regular, if not daily, basis. This sin consciousness seemed to permeate their minds. I owe that way of thinking to the “I’m a sinner saved by grace” mentality. I think the more biblical mindset ought to be, “I’m a saint who has been forgiven and empowered to walk free from sin.”
Sin is slavery, and we have been set free from it. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Spirit Empowered Living
Sin is a Satanic life form that dwells within every unredeemed human being: “Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:20) However, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
You’ve heard it said that mercy is not receiving what you deserve (wrath and punishment), and grace is receiving what you don’t deserve (forgiveness of sin). But I believe there is so much more to God’s grace than just forgiveness of sins. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” (Titus 2:11-12)
Grace is also an empowerment from the Holy Spirit to walk in holiness. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) And, “if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13) Yes, we have been empowered by the Spirit of God to put to death the deeds of the flesh (sin). And grace (strength) has been given to train us to live a godly, overcoming lifesyle.
Breaking the Cycle
Are you stuck in the cycle of sinning, confessing your sin to God, and then sinning the same sin over and over again? I fear that many Christians are. When we sin and only confess those sins to God we keep it in a circle of three – Satan, God, and yourself. If the confession never leaves that circle we easily enter into the sin time and time again. But when we bring a fourth person into our circle, a brother or sister in the Lord, we break the cycle.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ““Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother? Our brother breaks the circle of self-deception. A man who confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself; he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person.”
If you are stuck in this cycle, I want to encourage you today to find a brother or sister in the Lord that you trust and be open and vulnerable with them and bring them into your circle. I believe it will be life changing.
Hatred for Sin
I remember a visit to a revival service many years ago where the evangelist gave an altar call. I had some secret sin in my life and needed to come clean. I responded to the call to come forward to repent and stepped in front of a Godly little gray-haired man for prayer. As I confessed my sin before him he said something in his prayer that I’ve never forgotten. He said, “Lord, I pray you give this man a hatred for sin!”
I remember leaving the service that night saying, “Lord, I don’t hate my sin. Please give me a hatred for sin.” That was over twenty years ago and although my walk with the Lord hasn’t been perfect, my hatred for sin and evil has grown abundantly. God hates sin and so should we. I pray your hatred for it would grow as well.
In the end, it is not a river or a ritual that can wash away our sins, but the shed blood of Jesus Christ, which offers us not only forgiveness, but also the freedom and empowerment to live a life that is pleasing to Him. (Colossians 1:10)
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