I thought that might get your attention. What is it about rules that make us want to rebel? Maybe it’s not about rules, and maybe it’s about US! Have you ever heard of the evil impulse? Most religions acknowledge this inclination to act solely in our own self-interest. In Judaism, yetzer hara is the congenital inclination to do evil by violating the will of God. The term is drawn from the phrase “the imagination of the heart of man is evil,” which occurs twice at the beginning of the Torah (Genesis 6:5 and Genesis 8:21). In Christianity, we see this concept unpacked by John in 1 John 1:8-10. Writing to Christians, he writes in 1 John 1:8–10 (NIV), “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”
In Ecclesiastes 7:20, we read that “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” Regarding this, Augustine would write, “If thou shalt confess thyself a sinner, the truth is in thee; for the truth is itself light. Not yet has thy life become perfectly light, as sins are still in thee, but yet thou hast already begun to be illuminated because there is in thee confession of sins.”
We are kidding ourselves if we think that sin does not exist in our nature (1 John 1:8) and in our conduct (1 John 1:10). If this is true, even for the Christian, the audience which John addresses, how should it inform our perspective and our response?
May I propose a couple of suggestions?
First, humbly acknowledge that you are a fellow-struggler who will not reach perfection on this side of glory. Paul confessed his struggle in Romans 7 and his heartfelt acknowledgment of imperfection in Philippians 3.
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15 NIV).
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 NIV).
Second, keep short accounts with God. A daily time of reflection, examination, and confession will keep us in good fellowship with God. I might suggest the following verses to direct you in this time:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24 NIV).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).
I often envision Jesus, willingly washing my feet, cleaning off the daily dirt that I have picked up in my battle with my flesh, the world, and the devil. This vision of Jesus highlights for me His amazing grace and love while also humbling me as an unworthy recipient of His grace and forgiveness, restoring me back to close communion with my Savior.
Special Note: If you are not yet a Believer and you want to learn more about God’s amazing grace, text fillme to 97000 or visit https://www.bridgeway.cc/jesus/ to learn more about receiving eternal life.
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