But I’m Not a Sinner: 3 ways to identify sin in your life
As a new believer, I didn’t understand how I was a sinner. If you’re in this same place, here are some ways to identify sin in your life so you can live the life God has planned for you.
I am relatively new to the faith, and I didn’t come to Christ until I was an adult. I did not grow up going to a church, reading the Bible, or talking much about Jesus. I knew who He was, and with a very faithful dad, I had some idea of the importance of Jesus, but I didn’t know Him personally. I knew of Jesus but didn’t know Jesus.
After a long and winding path, I met Jesus and started to really get to know Him and to understand what it means for Him to have died for my sins.
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Before coming to Christ, whenever I heard a Christian say that Jesus died for my sins, I would wonder, what sins? I’m a good person. I don’t lie, cheat, or steal. I try to treat others how I want to be treated. I respect my elders and those in authority. I hold the door open for others and say please and thank you. I’m a good person, so why would I need someone to die for my sins?
Galatians 5:19-21
19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ways to identify sin in your life
The Bible lists many different sins, many of which are straightforward and understandably wrong in the eyes of most: things like murder (Exodus 20:13), stealing (20:15), or lying about others (20:16) are external sins and doing wrong against others.
We can agree that these are bad, right?
But other sins are more devious and can be harder to spot.
Many of these hard-to-spot issues have to do with our internal struggles rather than our outward actions: things like being envious toward others, coveting things you don’t have, or being prideful are all internal wrongs that affect our own character and attitude toward others and the world around us. These are sins because they make it harder for us to focus on God, our gratitude for what He’s given us, and the plans that He has prepared for us.
1. Recognize your need for Jesus
The first step to solving a problem is admitting there is one, right? So for me, I first had to admit that yes, I am indeed a sinner, and I do in-fact need a savior. For new believers, that can be a tough pill to swallow. It was for me at least.
1 John 1:8-10
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Once we admit that we do need Jesus in our lives, we can move forward and start building a relationship with Him. Then we can start to address the sin in our lives.
2. Get into the Word of God
Once I recognized my need for Jesus, I was more open to hearing what He had to say. And one of the best ways to find out what Jesus has to say is by opening up the Bible and reading what He actually has to say!
Psalm 119:11
11I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
To be totally honest, I have a hard time just reading the Bible. I get confused by the language, my eyes start to glaze over whenever a genealogical list pops up, and the depth of the metaphors can be lost on me.
If that sounds familiar, then I suggest doing a Bible study, either on your own or with a group of people. It’s so helpful to hear what others have to say on the subject, and a lot of the time, you can gain a lot of historical and contextual data that really clarifies what exactly is going on within the passage. So definitely start with a study, utilize your resources, and dig into what the Word has to offer.
3. Pray and listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings
Lastly, once you accept Jesus as your savior, you have a helper in the Holy Spirit!
John 14:26
26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
We are not alone in our walk, and the Holy Spirit is there to guide us and keep us on the right path (Proverbs 3:6).
I have a lot of sin, and I will struggle with it every day for the rest of my life, so it’s unrealistic for me to address every area of my life that isn’t in-line with God’s will for me all at once. So when it’s time to address a certain area, the Holy Spirit lets me know what I’m struggling with and how to address it. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always mean that I address my sin and it goes away forever.
I have a tendency to pick things back up, and I suspect certain things will cause me to stumble for the rest of my life. But God’s grace is sufficient, praise Him.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Learn to listen to the Holy Spirit in your life and follow his promptings, and trust God’s grace to cover it all.
Dear God, thank you so much for opening my eyes to the sin that I struggle with.
I am grateful that I now understand what it means for Jesus to have died for my sins, and I am so very grateful that He made the ultimate sacrifice so that I may become a child of God. I pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to point out the sins I struggle with, and I pray for your wisdom and courage that I may overcome any sin that has a hold on me. Thank you so much for our perfect savior. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Once I became a Christian, I understood the internal sins I was struggling with and the significance of Jesus washing away those sins. I am a good person, but I am still a sinner. And no matter how much good I do here on this earth, I will always struggle with some sort of sin. Thank God there are ways to identify sin in your life, and praise Him for His plan to redeem us through Jesus Christ, because without his sacrifice, we could never be seen as righteous in the eyes of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Blessings Friend.
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