Proverbs 28:1-28
Saturday, 20 April 2024
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” -Proverbs 28:13
Man’s fallen nature inherited through the first man, Adam, always shows an affinity towards sin. It is good to define sin as the Bible sees it: “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4) – breaking the law of God. God has clearly written in His Word what they are. Falling prey to sinful actions comes by default to one who has not been born of the Spirit of God. The fallen and corrupted nature of man is often referred to as the “flesh” in Scripture. Romans 8:7 says “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”
Some fall prey to sin and live in it and what follows next is guilt. But we do have victory over sin if we decide to take the right steps to overcome. If we do not deal with sin and continue in it, we end up in a lifetime of guilt which can swallow us up. An old thief even if he has not committed a crime, starts to run at the glimpse of a policeman. Now why does that happen? His guilt followed by fear convicts him. Proverbs 28:1 says “The wicked run away when no one is chasing them”- this is the guilt and fear of the sinner.
Sin if not dealt with can ruin one’s life. David cries out: "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.” Psalm 32:3[NLT] But when he confessed it, he received forgiveness from God (Ps.32:5). Let us look into the steps of how to deal with sin:
1. Acknowledge Sin
The first step to clear one’s sinful account is to acknowledge that Sin is Sin! Where realisation starts a process of rectification commences. In Psalm 38:18 David speaks: ”For I will declare my iniquity…”
2. Confess your Sin
Step two is confessing, which is an act of agreeing to God that you have committed a wrongdoing. Its feeling truly sorry for your sin and deciding to tell God that you were wrong. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
3. Renounce your Sin
Once you confess your sin, decide to turn away from it all together (renounce it) and turn to God so that He will give you a new start. Acts 3:19 says: Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…
When your part is complete, then God takes over!
1. God forgives youGod offers us forgiveness of sin through His Son, Jesus Christ who has paid for the wages of sin which is death (Rom.4:25; 6:23). When we accept what Christ’s death on our behalf, we are saved!
2. God will instruct and teach youWhen you surrender yourselves to God He will teach you: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8) If you tend to go astray He will take measures to discipline you (Hebrews 12:6)
3. He makes you bold as the lion The lion, the king of the jungle fears no beast and walks with power. When we submit our lives to Jesus and strive to walk with an acceptable life in God’s sight, we will walk boldly as the lion (Prov. 28:1) for no arrows of the evil will penetrate the righteous (Isaiah 54:17).
Dear brothers and sisters, our God loves us and He is rich in mercy. He wants to forgive us and desires that we come to Him through Christ! So Let us run to His throne of grace with confidence and receive His mercy to help us in our time of need— the need being to overcome sin and live in victory!
To Act on: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14)
Listen: 'LORD I come'