Message from 1 John 1:5-2:6

People have many ways to excuse sin. If politicians are known for “saying anything just to get elected,” some Christians may be known to say anything in order to save face or avoid admitting sin.

We hesitate to use the word sin. It is much easier and more appealing to our conscience to refer to “misspeaking” or a “temporary lapse of judgment.” When celebrities or athletes are held to account for the language they use, they often say something like, “Those words don’t represent who I am.” Maybe so, but the words do represent something- at minimum your state of mind at the time. A candidate in the recent vice presidential debate referred to himself as a “knucklehead,” instead of admitting a specific discrepancy and error. This general talk is selfishly convenient because it obscures two bigger issues: 1) the specific sins for which we need forgiveness, and 2) the sin tendency deep within our hearts that needs to be dealt with. We have inherited guilt from Adam, and we need forgiveness and cleansing before a righteous and holy God’s, whose wrath burns against sin ten times hotter than the surface of the sun. John identifies several false claims about sin which people use in order to avoid admitting they need forgiveness. They need someone to be the atoning sacrifice for their sins. The need a propitiation which will turn aside God’s wrath, so that they can be reconciled to God. Jesus is that atoning sacrifice!

Click here for last week’s message:

https://trytrinity.org/sermons/fragrance-of-life-fragrance-of-death-christ-is-victor/