(A series on lies sin tells us to tempt us and trick us. Read the rest here.)
We like to dismiss our sins as being someone else’s fault.
After all, so many sins are committed against every one of us. Every marriage between two sinners has hurts due to sin. Children suffer the natural consequences of their parents’ sins. It’s not hard to accurately blame others for hurting us, misleading us, and tempting us to our own sins.
But we must be careful.
To keep us from facing our own sin, evil deceitfully redirects us to others’ sins.
Yet each of us will give a personal account to God (Romans 14:12.)
We will not be held accountable for the sins committed against us, but we are responsible for the sins we commit in response. It’s important to spot the difference.
The issues we face when we fail to recognize our own responsibility for sin include:
- A lack of knowing who to or how to forgive
- Refusing to change though Christ has made the way
- Excusing our sins instead of asking forgiveness
- Maintaining only a narrow view of God’s grace
- Resisting transformation by our Lord
Not only do we tend to remain in the bonds of sin when we cast the blame on others’ issues and ignore our own, but we also perpetuate our own sin.
Case Study: Anxiety A parent constantly belittling a child can do great harm. It’s not surprising when children who are mistreated like this grow up to be anxious as they question their worth and abilities. God will hold parents who mistreat their children accountable. Likewise, believers whose anxieties direct their steps, even if their anxiety is rooted in childhood maltreatment, will also be held accountable. We are not on the hook for a parent’s mistreatment, nor for reacting as a human does. But we are responsible for sinning against God ourselves by letting anxiety be a master. Understanding what we are accountable for is essential for dealing with sin effectively.
To excuse sin on the basis of victimization is to make too little of God -and too much of the power of sins committed against us.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” -2 Corinthians 12:9
Sins we commit because of sins committed against us are a picture of the weakness Paul refers to.
It wasn’t Paul who put the thorn in his own side. But it was Paul who had the choice to lean, aching, into the sufficiency of the grace of God instead of choosing to act out of his hurt.
That’s what we’re accountable for regarding sin- our thoughts, our attitudes, our choices. What we begin, and what we perpetuate.
Scripture tells us God holds us accountable for our hidden faults, the sins we have trouble discerning in ourselves (Psalm 19:12.)
God divides soul and spirit, He alone “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12.)
The truth is intimidating. We truly are without excuse.
Sin really is a choice we each make,
not something we can pass off as someone else’s fault.
Praise the Lord we aren’t stuck in judgement. We know the verdict.
Taking responsibility for our sin gives us the ownership needed to bring it before Christ and be forgiven. Taking responsibility for what we can control -us- is a sure way to the grace of God.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,” Hebrews 4:16 continues.
We don’t approach with confidence because we are faultless, victimized, or progressing well in the sanctification process.
No, we approach God’s throne with confidence because of who He is, knowing that He who holds us perfectly accountable through Christ also intends for us to: “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
When the temptation is tied to things that aren’t our fault, it’s hard to step up and say “no.” Sin tempts us at our weakest.
Praise the Lord- He breaks the chains that tell us someone else decided for us. Because of Christ, it’s never too late to be free to live assured in Him!
This post may also be shared on: #TestimonyTuesday, #RaRaLinkup, #Intentionally Pursuing, #WomenWithIntention, #TellHiStory, #Thought-Provoking Thursday, #DanceWithJesus, #LLMLinkup, Faith-Filled Friday, Sitting Among Friends, and #SoulSurvivalLinkup.
Bethany- sin is a choice! Good reminder!
I love 2 Corinthians 12:9- It’s great to know we have a strong God that can help us overcome all situations if we look to Him for the help!
Julie
Me too, Julie! I’m so grateful He is always ready and able to help us- even when we’ve made choices we no longer want to make!
As I was reading this Bethany, the song “Chainbreaker” by Zach Williams popped into my head. It’s so true that Jesus will break every chain of sin we are bonded too, but first WE must repent and ask for forgiveness. It’s so easy sometimes to blame circumstances or others for our failings and shortcomings. Great reminder about accountability. So thankful for God’s mercy and grace. 🙂
I’ll have to look the song up, Nicki! Thanks for the recommendation : ) I’m so grateful, too, that every tough truth about accountability and responsibility is held within the bounds of God’s grace and forgiveness.
This series is making me want to go back and re-read some John Owen! We do have a way of domesticating our sin, of excusing ourselves and letting our failings become our identity. Good good thoughts here (as usual!).
Thank you Michele! Oo- old school! I’ve just recently heard of John Owen while reading Martyn Lloyd Jones’ biography. Any recommendations on where to start with him??
Well . . . the one and only book I’ve read by him is has a longish title, but short version is The Mortification of Sin. He writes hundreds of pages (Puritan style!) about Romans 8:13 and putting to death the deeds of the flesh. I’ve just been rummaging around in it lately because of a class I’m preparing for. I wrote a whole series of blog posts about it back in my early blogging days when I didn’t even know how to put a picture on the post. 🙂
Bethany, thanks for a great reminder. Calling sin what it is is the most hopeful, freeing thing we can do … because there is a remedy for sin … God’s grace! But blameshifting, playing the victim and other excuses, only keeps us stuck in it!
You say it so well, Donna! Thank you for the great example you set of this through your writing : )
Bethany, what a great series and perspective in this post. Yes, we need to distinguish between the offense done to us and the sin we are responsible for. Thank you for your iron-sharpening words today!