Concept 3: Forgiveness of Sin/ Obedience of the Believer

What happens when I sin after I become a Christian?  Does God still love me?  Am I still a Christian?  What is up – I thought Christians didn’t sin?  What should I do?  These questions and ones like them rage through the mind of the believer when they sin.

Coming to grips with how to deal with your sin after conversion is a foundational truth. Without a clear understanding of what to do or what to believe about forgiveness of sin will lead the believer to live a life of guilt and will ultimately cause an emotional rift between God and man.

Sin separates man from God.  We just have to look at the garden of Eden to see how man runs and hides from the presence of God when he sins.  We are not different today.  When we disobey God we emotionally and sometimes physically run and hide from God.

We know from the first concept that the believer is secure in their salvation. So, what happens when I sin.  That is the jest of this lesson.

Discussion Question:

What do you think happens when a Christian sins?

Original Sin

Genesis 2:16-17, 3:1-3

How Sin Happens

James 1:13-15 (I John 2:15-17, I Corinthians 10:13)

Practicing Sin

1 John 3:1-10 (Psalms 19:12-14)

Confession/Repentance

1 John 1:8-10 (Proverbs 28:13)

Suffering Sin

Psalms 32:1-7

Complete Forgiveness

Psalms 103:6-14 (Isaiah 43:25)

Battle of the Flesh

Romans 7:14-8:2 (Galatians 5:16-25)

Our goal must be obedience, but when we sin, we must confess our sin and believe that God has forgiven us (according to His promise in 1 John 1:9).  We must forsake our sin and yield our lives to the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  Learning to keep short accounts with the Lord will lead to a fulfilling walk with God.

Memorize 1 John 1:9

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