Sunday, July 6, 2008
“Admit you are a Sinner”
Text: I John 1: 8 – 10
We embark on our Summer Sizzler series with an ambitious theme: “12 steps in nine weeks: breaking your addiction to sin.”
Many of us will quickly recognize the 12 step program idea that is most poplar with alcoholic and narcotic rehabilitation programs. Those programs have achieved a solid reputation for supporting persons who are seeking to rehabilitate themselves from the ravages of those diseases.
I would argue that while to sin is an act, much like to drink or to drug; sinning is a state of being just like being an alcoholic or being a drug addict. Therefore, if one wants to be rehabilitated from the state of being a sinner, then one needs a 12 step program to support them in their journey.
During my time at Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion church, we developed the largest AA support group in Baltimore City. We also sponsored a NA program. At the beginning of every meeting, the participants would state their name by saying for example, my name is Alvin Hathaway, and I am an alcoholic. The group would respond, good evening Alvin Hathaway. I also attended a graduation program for members of a narcotic anonymous program, and they would begin their meeting by saying. My name is Alvin Hathaway, and I am an addict. The group would respond, Hello Alvin Hathaway.
I wondered what was the therapeutic value in stating that you were either an alcoholic or a drug addict.
It was explained to me that if one is in a state of denial, then one will not be receptive to treatment.
Is it possible that the reason sin is so prevalent in the world is that the people of the world are in a state of denial?
Is it possible that the reason why sin is so prevalent in the church is that the people of the church are in a state of denial?
Wait a minute; I can hear you saying, before I admit to something, you better define what it is.
What is sin?
Sin is missing that mark of the high calling which is found in Christ Jesus.
The effect of sin is God separating himself from you because sin is diametrically opposed to God and God and sin cannot be in the same place at the same time.
Where sin is; God is not; where God is; there is no sin.
The devastating effect of being a sinner is that when you are in that state of being you are in opposition to God’s purposes.
That was the whole issue when we examine the original sin of Adam and Eve in the garden. When they decided to oppose God and follow the serpent, which is Satan. God separated himself by throwing them out of the Garden of Eden.
The Garden represents the place of perpetual relationship with God.
Being a sinner is different than having an ethical lapse or a moral indiscretion. Ethics and morals are really dependent upon a culture’s definition of right and wrong.
For example, on the international scene there is an uproar over the election of Robert Mugabe as the President of Zimbabwe. By all accounts, he violated ethical and moral norms by strong arming his way into the presidential office.
In other words, he sinned. Some would say he lied, he cheated. He killed, and he stole to win reelection.
Mugabe silenced all the heads of African governments by saying if you are going to judge how I won the election; I will disclose how each of you won your elections. No African President spoke a word in opposition to him.
If you live in a glass house, you should not throw stones.
The nature of ethical and moral norms is dependent upon the culture’s definition of right and wrong.
Jesus even used this idea of ethical and moral norms when he confronted the men who wanted to stone the woman for having an array of relationships by writing in the sand and asking who is willing to cast the first stone. As the men were presented with their own indiscretions, they slipped away without casting a stone.
The nature of ethical and moral norms is dependent upon the culture’s definition of right and wrong.
Being a sinner is different than having an ethical lapse or a moral indiscretion.
Ethical lapses and moral indiscretions are physical; being a sinner is spiritual.
Being a sinner is habitually missing that mark of the high calling which is found in Christ Jesus. What results is that one is separated from God, and God separates himself from you because sin is diametrically opposed to God and God and sin cannot exist at the same time.
Ethics and morals are dependent upon cultural norms; but sin is dependent upon ones spiritual relationship to the Holy Spirit.
Every one of us finds ourselves spiritually sinning against the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, every one of us needs to admit that we are a sinner.
What is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the comforting presence of God that causes a believer to be born again.
The Holy Spirit is the comforting presence of God that causes a believer to be sealed to the day of redemption.
The Holy Spirit is the comforting presence of God that causes a believer to be empowered in life for service.
The Holy Spirit is the comforting presence of God that leads you and guides you.
The Holy Spirit is the comforting presence of God promised by Jesus Christ.
When I’m gone, Jesus said; I will send to you a comforter.
I’m so glad that God’s Holy Spirit is a comforter.
When I find myself having to sort through fractured relationships, bruised feelings, hard heartiness and concretized positions; I need a comforter.
When I find myself having to suffer the burdens of leadership; I need a comforter.
When I find myself exposed to the abuse of followship; I need a comforter.
When I find myself wrestling with my own weaknesses having to appear strong; I need a comforter.
When I find the circumstances of life inconsistent; I need a comforter.
When it seems that it makes no sense to keep on keeping on; I need a comforter.
Have you ever found yourself wondering why do you continue to interact with people who don’t respect your personhood?
Have you ever found yourself so weak that you cannot get out of the bed?
Your energy tank is so low you’ve lost the ability to navigate through life.
Life has taught me that you cannot make it on your own power.
Life has taught me that I need God to be a comforter.
I need God to intercede on my behalf.
I need God to pick me up when I fall.
I need God to hold me when I am lonely.
I need God to reassure me when I lose confidence.
I need God to buffer me when the arrows. The darts of the wicked one are directed towards me.
I need God to hold my hand, to wipe my brow, and to comfort my soul.
Life has taught me that I need the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes, the Holy Spirit does not come, and I think that God has abandoned me and I wonder why.
As I probe the depths of the whyness of life, I find that I must admit, and you must admit that you are spiritually a sinner.
Admitting you are a sinner opens you up to the healing power of the Holy Spirit.
Admitting you are a sinner creates that avenue by which God’s strengthens you for the journey.
Admitting you are a sinner prepares you for the forgiveness that can only come from God.
That’s why you have to admit you are a sinner, because “if you say you have no sin, you deceive yourself, and the truth is not in you.”
Let me get back to my original question: what is sin?
Some want to classify sin, label it, and use it as an instrument of discrimination.
Use it as a tool of disassociation.
“All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.”
That is the awesome reality of being a sinner – we all sin.
Therefore, just admit it, you are, and I am a sinner.
The beauty of God is that “if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.”
That’s good news!
You and I do not have to be in a perpetual state of sin.
We have an escape.
We can be transformed.
We can be born again.
All you have to do is admit you are a sinner.
Confess your sins, not to me, not to us, but to God.
One of the most descriptive biblical illustrations of this shows a man standing at the altar saying to God; thank God I am not like that other man a sinner. The man he is labeling, the man he is classifying, the man he is discriminating against is kneeling at the altar without looking up asking God to forgive him because he is a sinner and Jesus says which man is justified in heaven: the one who admits that he is a sinner.
Healing and forgiveness can only begin with an admission of sin. I am a sinner.
I admit I am a sinner.
Because God does something transformative for sinners – he forgives them, he dies for them, and he saves them.
“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
