Christian Lawbreakers

I John 3:4-6 “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.”

I am an upright, law-abiding citizen.

Except when I’m not. (Ahem.)

Unfortunately, I have broken the law a time or two. Yes, I have more than one speeding ticket in my history. And once, I’m ashamed to admit, I even forgot to appear in court. But in my defense, I had the flu, and as soon as I realized the error of my ways, I promptly turned myself in. The judge forgave me for my hideous infraction of the law, and let me go. He didn’t even fine me.

God’s Word tells us we are all lawbreakers. We all sin. Without exception, we have all broken God’s laws. But Jesus, who is without sin, paid the penalty for our sin, so that we wouldn’t have to carry around that burden. When we truly understand the sacrifice that was made for our sakes, we are humbled. We are changed. We are sorry for the sin that caused such a sacrifice.

But when we continue to sin, we show a lack of understanding. When we continue to sin, we prove that we are not really sorry at all. We demonstrate that although we may want the free gift of salvation, we don’t appreciate the great price that was paid for that gift. And without that appreciation and understanding, we don’t really know Him at all.

John doesn’t tell us that if we know him, we won’t sin. Instead, he says, “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.” When we know Him, really know Him, then the very fact of our sin breaks our hearts, and we will do all in our power not to continue in that sin.

Dear Father, Thank you for Your Son, Jesus, who came to take my punishment for my sins. Please forgive me for all of my sins, and specifically for __________________. Please help me not to do that again.
Amen