Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:12-14)
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Ps 19:12-14)
We All Make Mistakes!
Inadvertent Mistakes – Mistakes that are not willful, purposeful actions.
Willful Mistakes – Sometimes people purposely take actions that they know are wrong or at least not advisable. These “mistakes” often have significant negative outcomes.
Little Mistakes – Most of the mistakes we make are small mistakes with no serious consequences.
Big Mistakes – Sometimes we make bigger mistakes that can cost thousands of dollars, cause injuries or even lead to someone’s death.
Morally Neutral Mistakes – A mistake with no ethical or moral issues involved.
Immoral Mistake – A mistake involving selfish motives, purposeful harm to others, or disobedience of God or those in authority over us.
So mistakes can range from an inadvertent, morally neutral, little mistake, to a willful, immoral, big mistake. What the Bible refers to as sin would typically be a willful immoral action. If it is a small sin, it would be referred to as a venial sin, but if it is a big mistake, it would likely be considered a grave sin that will separate us from God.
All mistakes have negative consequences, so we should always be seeking to eliminate errors from our lives. It turns out that is exactly what the Bible says!
Delicate Balance
On the one hand, Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
On the other hand, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 to “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” and He does not command us to do anything that is not possible for us to attain through total surrender and the grace of God.
While in reality error is the human condition, we are to strive for the goal of being perfect. There is no way we can make any progress towards perfection in our human strength. As Isaiah says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Is 64:6) Fortunately Paul goes on to say that we “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:24)
Temptation Is Not Sin
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Cor 10:13)
Temptation is a part of life and what makes us human. God makes it clear that any temptation we experience is not unique, and that He will not only ensure we are not tempted beyond what we can handle, He will always provide a way for us to handle that temptation as long as our eyes are on Him. Thus, to be tempted by something, or to have an undesired thought about a sinful action, is not a sin if we immediately reject that thought or temptation and ask God to empty us and cleanse us of such thoughts, while also strengthening us and protecting us against ever giving in to those thoughts.
Typical Response To Error
Adam and Eve give us a good illustration of the typical human response to error. First they tried to hide, and once they were “caught,” they blamed each other and even God for their actions. We see this same cycle repeated throughout history. It is prevalent in our personal lives, in business and in government.
On the other hand, some people tend to “beat themselves up” whenever they make a mistake—punishing themselves and feeling like they are a terrible person and they will never get any better.
What The Bible Teaches
God teaches us a balanced approach:
1. Acknowledge that we all make mistakes.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
2. Confess our sins to God, directly or through a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
3. Confess our sins to each other.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
4. Trust God’s promise to cause all things, including our mistakes, to work for good as long as we love Him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28
5. Acknowledge that only God can bring about the necessary changes in us.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! Rom 7:21-25
6. Realize that God works through our weaknesses.
But 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Cor 12:9-10)
So when we make a mistake or commit a sin, we should:
- Acknowledge to God and to others that it was wrong, going to a priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation if it was a grave sin, because that will separate us from God.
- State our desire and intention to work with God as He helps us to avoid that sin or mistake in the future.
- Accept God’s forgiveness.
- Make restitution if appropriate.
Then get on with our life, continuing to surrender fully to Him, thanking and praising Him in all circumstances, and keeping our eyes on Him at all times.
Consider/Discuss
1. Which is the hardest step in the response to mistakes or sin for you?
2. Why do you think some people have a hard time forgiving themselves?
Scripture Memory Verse
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)
Let's Pray! - Prayers of Surrender
Click on the link above, and choose one of the prayers we haven't prayed yet.
Inadvertent Mistakes – Mistakes that are not willful, purposeful actions.
Willful Mistakes – Sometimes people purposely take actions that they know are wrong or at least not advisable. These “mistakes” often have significant negative outcomes.
Little Mistakes – Most of the mistakes we make are small mistakes with no serious consequences.
Big Mistakes – Sometimes we make bigger mistakes that can cost thousands of dollars, cause injuries or even lead to someone’s death.
Morally Neutral Mistakes – A mistake with no ethical or moral issues involved.
Immoral Mistake – A mistake involving selfish motives, purposeful harm to others, or disobedience of God or those in authority over us.
So mistakes can range from an inadvertent, morally neutral, little mistake, to a willful, immoral, big mistake. What the Bible refers to as sin would typically be a willful immoral action. If it is a small sin, it would be referred to as a venial sin, but if it is a big mistake, it would likely be considered a grave sin that will separate us from God.
All mistakes have negative consequences, so we should always be seeking to eliminate errors from our lives. It turns out that is exactly what the Bible says!
Delicate Balance
On the one hand, Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
On the other hand, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:48 to “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” and He does not command us to do anything that is not possible for us to attain through total surrender and the grace of God.
While in reality error is the human condition, we are to strive for the goal of being perfect. There is no way we can make any progress towards perfection in our human strength. As Isaiah says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Is 64:6) Fortunately Paul goes on to say that we “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:24)
Temptation Is Not Sin
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Cor 10:13)
Temptation is a part of life and what makes us human. God makes it clear that any temptation we experience is not unique, and that He will not only ensure we are not tempted beyond what we can handle, He will always provide a way for us to handle that temptation as long as our eyes are on Him. Thus, to be tempted by something, or to have an undesired thought about a sinful action, is not a sin if we immediately reject that thought or temptation and ask God to empty us and cleanse us of such thoughts, while also strengthening us and protecting us against ever giving in to those thoughts.
Typical Response To Error
Adam and Eve give us a good illustration of the typical human response to error. First they tried to hide, and once they were “caught,” they blamed each other and even God for their actions. We see this same cycle repeated throughout history. It is prevalent in our personal lives, in business and in government.
On the other hand, some people tend to “beat themselves up” whenever they make a mistake—punishing themselves and feeling like they are a terrible person and they will never get any better.
What The Bible Teaches
God teaches us a balanced approach:
1. Acknowledge that we all make mistakes.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
2. Confess our sins to God, directly or through a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
3. Confess our sins to each other.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
4. Trust God’s promise to cause all things, including our mistakes, to work for good as long as we love Him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28
5. Acknowledge that only God can bring about the necessary changes in us.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! Rom 7:21-25
6. Realize that God works through our weaknesses.
But 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Cor 12:9-10)
So when we make a mistake or commit a sin, we should:
- Acknowledge to God and to others that it was wrong, going to a priest for the Sacrament of Reconciliation if it was a grave sin, because that will separate us from God.
- State our desire and intention to work with God as He helps us to avoid that sin or mistake in the future.
- Accept God’s forgiveness.
- Make restitution if appropriate.
Then get on with our life, continuing to surrender fully to Him, thanking and praising Him in all circumstances, and keeping our eyes on Him at all times.
Consider/Discuss
1. Which is the hardest step in the response to mistakes or sin for you?
2. Why do you think some people have a hard time forgiving themselves?
Scripture Memory Verse
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)
Let's Pray! - Prayers of Surrender
Click on the link above, and choose one of the prayers we haven't prayed yet.