Praying for the Same Sin
Had a recent discussion with a brother about the common things we hear when men make public prayers. One of those are the words, “We often make mistakes Lord, even sinning against you Father, and we ask that you forgive us when we do sin”, or “We are weak, and we all fall short please forgive us when we sin against you Father.” These are all a true statements, but we must be careful that our “…godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10). Be careful we aren’t self-deceived into a pattern of sinning the same things all week, then praying like that, thinking we are ok, good to go. True godly sorrow produces diligence or persistent effort. Godly sorrow causes us to clear ourselves of the sin, to develop indignation, fear, vehement desire, and zeal, that vindicates! Godly sorrow for sin will bring about proof that we are clear from whatever was afflicting us (2 Cor. 7:11).
Prayer is great but asking God for forgiveness in a “general, all-encompassing prayer” without true repentance is not a good thing to practice. We must be careful to work the work of repentance that brings change in our lives. Remember that forgiveness must be proceeded by repentance. Sinning the same sin and asking a thousand times for forgiveness does nothing if repentance is not in the equation. Everyone at some point in their lives must deal with the issues of sin and I do mean everyone. Paul said by inspiration, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and again “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12).
Sadly, though most denominations would translate verse 3:23 as “we all sin and there is nothing you can do about it so do it all in the name of the Lord”. Someone sent me a note once that said: “Confession #7: I hate people who judge me and think they know more than me when they are committing the same sin as I do every day.”
They Were Right about people who judge and commit the same sin.
Jesus said, “1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5)
This can be summed up by saying stop your sin before you judge another who is doing the same thing you are. No matter what the sin is, lying, bad language, steeling, adultery, laziness, missing the assemblies, being late, or not fulfilling your promises to serve. Whether it is a sin of commission or one of omission, they are all the same in nature—just sin. So, before you judge another person for telling nasty jokes, make sure you stopped, and then by all means speak to the person who is and help them in every way you can.
But beware of Paul’s warning to the saints of Galatia. “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8) Eliphaz, though he was wrong to apply these words to Job, they are none the less true. “Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed” (Job 4:8-9). We cannot delude ourselves, God will repay sin with wrath no matter how many times we ask for His forgiveness, if after asking we just keep on sinning the same sin.
Not Everyone Commits the Same Sins
Not everyone commits the same sins as does the man who prayed forgive us. Some sin in mind fighting the battle between the spirit and the flesh. Some battle physical sin. Some sin, ask for forgiveness then turn and repent and are cleared from it, putting it in the past like Paul who said, “13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).
Others just keep on doing the same sin. Christ has empowered believers by the words, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). I used to be an angry and violent person but when Jesus’ word showed me these behaviors were wrong. Two things helped my change. 1. I chose to love the Lord Jesus and His word more than my sin (Matt. 22:37). 2. The realization that all my sins were against God (Psa. 51:4). Now I can see clearly to help others with the same problems and that is not judgmental but loving (Matt. 7:5).
Everyone is a sinner and if they said different, they would be deceiving themselves. (1 John 1:8). Now “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1John 1:6), and no one who practices lying, among other sins, will enter heaven, but it is for those who overcome sin by the power of God throu9gh repentance. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:7-8). Christians must “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22). When you know what you are doing is sinful, don’t just pray, but stop it – period! Paul said “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
Bottom line is this:
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:8-9) and “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son...” (2 John 9).
If you would like to study the Bible I would be happy to come and sit with you and with you search out the great things of God. Here at the Columbus Street Church of Christ we are Christians only and our purpose is to Glorify God in the church by Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:21), and to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent (1 Peter 4:11), being the pillar and the ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).
If you are seeking to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, we invite you to join us.
In Love
David Scarpino