Character Flaw or Sin?

Sin is deceitful.

Scripture warns us to pay careful attention to our thoughts and actions, and pray continually so we do not give in to the temptation to sin.  (Matthew 26:41)

But are we being sufficiently accountable to this warning?

A Bible study lesson opened my eyes to the fact that I wasn’t. I was, in fact, in serious deficit.

Many of us view sin in terms of how well we are living out the ten commandments. If we never did or no longer practice what’s known as “gross sin” or “mortal sin” (fornication, adultery, theft, murder, idol worship, parental abuse, etc.,) we feel confident in our good standing as Christians and our relationship with GOD.

This was my thinking before a small group Bible study some years ago. 

Our study guide titled Respectable Sins by Christian author and speaker Jerry Bridges (1929 – 2016) focused on destructive behaviors that Christians indulge in routinely but lightly dismiss as “acceptable character flaws.” Mr. Bridges would prove through scripture references that these set of behaviors are not acceptable to GOD and are actually sin.

With every weekly gathering, page after page of our study guide exposed us to our true selves in ways that weren’t at all complementary to our Christian beliefs. As the weeks progressed, we began to appropriately identify in ourselves behaviors that were less than godly.  

We saw that selfishness, fault-finding, stinginess, overspending, resentments, irritation, religious arrogance, pride, “little white lies,” frustration, and even anxiety, to name a few, are not character flaws; not cute or minor failings to be shrugged off, but sinful acts for which we needed to repent.

Lesson sessions became open confessions and admissions to sin in our lives that we had blindly accepted for too long as being “just our nature,” or “just who we are.” We had to acknowledge that sinful behaviors in our lives were causing us to fall very short of a godly lifestyle.

We had to face the very hard truth that, when measured by all of the scriptures and GOD’s standards, we were a lot less “holy and righteous and anointed” than we thought we were – which was, not at all. (James 2:10.)

Coming to terms with previously unrecognized sinfulness was painful but we all had a common goal to change. Heartfelt and cleansing confession and prayer became a part of every session as well as personal commitment to daily prayer about our individual struggles

.

John Calvin said that all sin is mortal in the sense that it deserves death.

But we are so grateful that JESUS died for all sin – those we know of and those we do in ignorance. Our merciful and gracious Father forgives all.

People cannot see their own mistakes. Forgive me for my secret sins. Psalm 19:12

Conclusion

Our “character flaws” are nothing less than sin. But GOD teaches and rescues His children by His own divine means so sin does not control us all our lives.

Once we are aware of our sin, the Father expects us to accept that we have the ability to change and He does not ask us to do it alone.

Prayer, His WORD and the Holy Spirit work together to bring lasting change – to sanctify us. 

We do not have to live in sin and deceit when we put our faith and trust in the power of the Divine and Holy One, who is our GOD and Father.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Righteous Father and Sovereign over our lives. Thank you for forgiving us our sinfulness and teaching us true godliness. Help us to fully understand that to choose our own form of godliness is idolatry and disobedience to YOUR Law – and that all sin is mortal and worthy of death. Thank you for Divine grace through YOUR Holy Spirit that guides us and JESUS CHRIST who opened the door for us to know the joy and glory of YOUR presence for all eternity. To YOU belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. In the JESUS Name. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile