1 John 1:6-10 ⁶ “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Upon further reflection, I have decided to extend my series of doctrinal sermons on “Sin” to deal with a major issue for every Christ-follower: “How can I deal with the real and present problem of my own sins?” Therefore, as the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day morning I will address this very subject. What can the truly regenerated person do about the abiding presence of sin in our body and the many times that we give in to temptation?

No truly converted person wants to sin, yet we all do. Therein is our dilemma.

Someone (long ago) said, “No believer in this world will ever be sinless, but we can all sin less!” I don’t know who said that, but she or he was one wise person! As I have thought this through this week, I have written down five specific things that bear upon this situation:

1. A truly regenerated person does not have to sin, but we do still sin!

2. Christians sin when we do not do what we are commanded to do!

3. Christians sin when we do what we are commanded to not do!

4. Christians sin because while our sin nature is gone, our sinful flesh remains!

5. The fact that Christians still sin is one of the primary reasons that lost people reject Jesus!

Many non-believers find this unimaginable. They think that someone who knows Jesus should be perfect and when they discover that we most certainly are not perfect, they determine that we are all “hypocrites” and they have been right all along in their thinking that there is nothing real to all of this “religious” stuff.

I am even going to take a few moments for my favorite Latin phrase, “simul justus et peccator.” Don’t panic… I will explain this simple phrase and how vitally important it is!

*That is at least one of my two favorite Latin phrases; the other being, “Ecclesia reformata, et semper reformanda” but that is a whole different sermon… ;>)

For now, let me get back to the issues at hand: overcoming our sins!

As I look to the Scriptures, (and this sermon will have about as many different passages of Scripture as I have ever used in one sermon) I find several very clear and helpful truths about our problem.

First, we must “Realize the Reality” of the fact that true believers do actually (and continually) sin!

Second, we must “Remember the Results” that come from the sins in our life!

Third, we must “Recognize the Risk” at which we place ourselves if we refuse to confess and forsake our sins!

Fourth, we must “Reflect on the Response” that the Lord commands of us if we are to indeed win the battle with our sins!

Fifth and finally, we must “Resolve to Respond” in the right and Biblical way to the reality of our sins!

At first, the concept of a “sinning Christian” sounds like a contradiction in terms – and it ought to be so – but, the reality is that this phrase is actually redundant. To be a Christian is to be a sinner both before and after salvation.

Is that true? “Simul justus et peccator!”

I hope you will read over our focal passage in 1^st John. I hope you will think through and pray through those verses and these thoughts as you prepare your mind and spirit to both hear and respond to God’s Word this week!

As my dear friend Tom Rains so often says, “I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!”