I'm Prettty Sure I Don't Sin Anymore!

Since sanctification is a process, the realization of sin has to be a parallel process. Sanctification is the renewing of the mind to God’s way of thinking, and in turn reflecting Him in our everyday lives. Because renewing the mind happens in ‘steps’ and over time, repentance must then come in steps as our understanding is opened and we turn more and more TO Christ and AWAY from the world.

In other words, our confession of Christ doesn’t keep us from the sinful ways that have developed in us throughout our lives – however short or long they have been – because we understand God and His ways progressively as they are revealed to us. So there is a process of removing sin in our lives and turning our hearts and minds to Christ – a process of separating ourselves to Christ and away from sin.

This process of sanctification includes repentance. So, for instance, when God gives us a revelation in our lives which turns our thinking away from error, He is showing us where there is sin and drawing us to repent and be sanctified in that area. If we accept those revelations as such, and repentance becomes a regular part of our lives, then we progress in Christ-likeness.

The ‘aha’ moments, the sudden revelation of scripture that breaks off erroneous doctrine or an old way of thinking, the wisdom given by a friend extending God’s grace, these turn us away from self and toward God. And if these things turn us to God, then they turn us away from sin and error. We may not want to call these aha moments ‘revelations of sin,’ but anything that is not God’s way of thinking or living is sin. It’s that simple.

This process should never stop as long as we are alive and willing to be cleansed from sin. If we think we’ve arrived, God will give us an ‘aha’ moment and break off a chunk of the old mindset, removing sin. He’ll show us where we’re mistreating our spouse, have a plank in an eye, are too stubborn to move forward, etc., etc. This is not so we walk around with conviction and condemnation hanging on us – but that our hearts and minds would be open to accept and give greater grace and love.

What is the greater purpose of your ‘aha’ moment? Thank God for His faithfulness to our sanctification as He continually reveals sin in our lives and brings us to repentance.

Blessed be His name!