Confessing Sin

 James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Many Bible translations use the word sin in place of fault. The root interpretation of sin is to miss the mark, to come short of God’s perfection. The fall of Adam and Eve changed the nature of humanity. The human body is now subject to failure and shortcomings. We often say, “We are not perfect, we are all still human.” We still deal with human weaknesses. As humans, we still make mistakes and errors from doing everything perfectly, but our hearts can always be faultless before God. Scripture says that Christians cannot sin, (1 John 3:9). Yet, it is possible for a believer to still commit sin. But, if we want to remain in Christ, we will not live a life of sinning.  Satan knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and will exploit them, causing us to fall. Temptation to sin would not be temptation if it were not possible to transgress the laws of God. Giving our heart in full surrender in sanctification, letting the Holy Spirit take residence in our heart will give us the ability to resist the temptations of Satan. Confession is made possible by restoring one back to fellowship with God. “And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2:1). If we also confess our sins one to another, the prayer of other believers God will hear and heal broken fellowship. It is not God’s will that Christians fall when tempted. He has made a way of escape. It is not His will that Christians live in sin, but His will that they be delivered from sin. Thank God, He has provided grace and mercy to them that seek and ask forgiveness. We need not despair, get up, face your fault or sin, confess, and move forward with God.

Overtaken in a Fault

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

In a moment of weakness, Satan will take advantage of our failure to stay close to God. We have not arrived yet, and we all are subject to the temptations that beset us. Even those that are spiritual are not exempt from temptation and from the potential of being overtaken by sin. We all have our faults and shortcomings, but Paul is not speaking of inability to live perfect human lives. Overtaken in a fault is to succumb to Satan’s enticements to go contrary to what God wants. God’s desire is that we sin not, and we all have a choice to follow that command even in times of weakness. But, we must not allow a wrong choice to cause us to give up and quit serving God. Being spiritual or set apart to live a holy life should be the desire and drive of our life, but it does not immune us from failure. God is also in the restoration business. He cares about us and will not leave us in our failure. In the spirit of meekness, let us consider how we can help others stay connected or help to reconnect to a God who gives grace to all that reach out to Him. 

Sowing To The Spirit

Gal. 6:8 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”- 

Sowing is something we do out of choice. It is the actions that we demonstrate by what we do, say, or think. The principle of sowing is what you plant is what you will get. If you do things that will please the flesh and and satisfy its appetites, then you will reap the ill effects of that choice. If you do that what is right and do all things to the glory of God, then the rewards will bring rejoicing and fruits that will last for eternity. So, if we see someone who has fallen, sowing to the Spirit is to pray for the restoring of them, and not one of judgment. No one can make it to heaven on their own, we all need help from God and each other, we all need the Word to help us make it through the rough times. If we think that we can make it on our own (sowing to the flesh) then we are deceived. God’s Word is true and His Word will prove to be the final say. Let those who sow to the Spirit teach the Word with love and grace to strengthen those in the household of faith who have fallen. Let us bare one another’s burdens and sow acts of kindness, fulfilling the law of Christ.