The Blame Game

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It seems like the world is spinning out of control. From the pandemic to the crisis in Ukraine to the historic inflation, these among other things are spreading like a raging wildfire. So, it is fairly easy to look at our own conditions and misfortunes and blame them on these things. Just as children will blame their wrong doings on another, we too will blame our woes and sins on other things or other people. Perhaps even the devil himself.

Instead of blaming and pointing our bony fingers elsewhere, why don't we make the first stop and point our fingers to ourselves? I suppose human nature takes over and our first instinct is to shift the blame away from ourselves. But what if we do something that is not so inclined to our human nature and openly confess our sins before a holy God?

Better yet why not come to a merciful and loving Father and bow and ask for His forgiveness, instead of trying to justify our sin by blaming it on someone or something else?

The bible tells us we have a loving and forgiving Father who is faithful and just to forgive our sins - all our sins - and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But it has to start with us. God's forgiveness is not so automatic that once we sin, He simply forgives us.

This is not what the bible says. It says, "if we confess our sins" He is will forgive us. Now, before we go too far, let us be reminded that Jesus paid for our sins once and for all on the cross and by His atoning death. That is not to be confused with our daily sins. The sins we have committed since birth, to our present day and the sins we will commit in the future are and have been forgiven by the imputation of righteousness of God through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

The sins we commit today are due to a sin nature that still dwells within us and is fighting against our spirit daily. This nature of ours will not go away until we cross over from this life to the next in the glory of God's presence.

The Apostle Paul dealt with this struggle too. He even wrote about it in Romans Chapter 7. He knew the Law, as any Pharisee worth his salt would. Yet, he was in a constant state of battling between his flesh and his spirit:

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

The one thing Paul did not do was blame his sin on others. He didn't even try to blame Satan, as many of us might. He knew in the depths of his heart he was guilty, and though he had to live with this condition, he fought hard to stay true to his faith, because he knew the prize of heaven was in his sights. But he didn't use this struggle to justify his sin. He just realized that he was in a fight to do what is good, even when he did not want to.

Sound familiar? It ought to if you have been convicted by the Holy Spirit and are covered under the blood of Jesus Christ. Your spirit should be at unrest and struggle when it comes to your sin nature. You know what is right and what is wrong. But I would encourage you to fight the good fight. Pray to your heavenly Father who waits for you to come to Him and confess. He will, unconditionally, forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

If you don't have this kind of personal relationship with God, I urge you to seek Him out today and confess your sins, repent, and turn away from a sin-ridden lifestyle that only leads you straight the pits of hellfire and damnation. Believe in His Son, who died for your sins and ask the Father to forgive you and seal you with the Holy Spirit, so you may have everlasting life from this day forward.