The Dire Consequences of Hidden Sins

 

How many of us are guilty of hiding our sins? By concealing them, will we be spared the penalties sins produce? What is the right way to deal with secret sins?

There is an example in the Old Testament that dramatically demonstrates how attempting to hide sins can have devastating results.

Lessons from the story of Achan

After crossing the River Jordan, the Israelites entered the Promised Land. One of their first challenges was to conquer the city of Jericho, but there was an important requirement—they were forbidden to claim any spoils for themselves.

The instructions from God were clearly spelled out: “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it” (Joshua 6:18, emphasis added throughout).

The definition of “accursed,” according to Strong’s Concordance, is: “Things which should have been utterly destroyed, (appointed to) utter destruction.”

The precious items such as gold and silver were “consecrated [set apart] to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD” (verse 19).

Despite God’s crystal-clear instructions, Achan from the tribe of Judah took of the accursed and consecrated things and hid them in his tent. He took a Babylonian garment and some gold and silver. Somehow he foolishly thought that his actions were hidden from God (7:1, 21).

The devastating results of disobeying God

After destroying Jericho, the Israelites’ next objective was the town of Ai. However, the Israelite army was unexpectedly defeated, with the loss of 36 men (7:2-5). Joshua was rightly upset and confused, for God had promised to help them conquer the people of the land (1:5-9).

Why did God allow this defeat to happen? What had gone wrong?

God revealed to Joshua that “Israel has sinned . . . For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived . . . Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies . . . Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you” (7:11-12).

Sin cuts people off from God (Isaiah 59:2). God will not coexist with or tolerate sin.Sin cuts people off from God (Isaiah 59:2). God will not coexist with or tolerate sin. Through a process of elimination, God made known to Joshua that Achan was the guilty person. As a consequence, Achan, his family and possessions were destroyed (Joshua 7:10-26). This demonstrates how abhorrent sins are to God.

If not checked and removed, sin can spread and negatively influence and harm other people. Once the sin of disobeying God’s instructions was brought to light and removed, God once again blessed the people of Israel, and the city of Ai was easily overcome and conquered (8:1-29). The nation of Israel was no longer cut off from God—He continued to support the Israelites as He had promised.

Paradoxically, had Achan obeyed and patiently trusted God, he would have been allowed to take the spoils from the conquest of Ai (8:2). Sadly, he allowed greed and covetousness to master him, which led to his death (7:24-26). Disobeying God, and then attempting to hide the sin, was an extremely unwise decision.

God sees secret sins

Sometimes we consciously try to hide our sins. Other times we just overlook them.

But no matter how well we may try to conceal or ignore them, God sees all. God knows all our thoughts and motives and actions.

1. Our thoughts.

There is nothing hidden from God, not even our thoughts. Psalm 94:11 states, “The LORD knows the thoughts of man.” And furthermore, true Christians are admonished to cast “down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).

Achan did not realize that “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

God knows our thoughts of covetousness, lust, hatred or deception. He is not deceived, even if we have fooled others—or ourselves.

2. The intents and motives behind our actions.

Why do we do the things we do? God is very much aware of our motives, whether they are good or bad. Are they first and foremost to please God (Colossians 3:23-24), or are they for personal gain and glory?

God reveals that He knows our intents. Notice what King David told his son, Solomon:

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Later, the apostle Paul reminds us of what we need to consider when reading the Bible: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

3. The things we do in secret.

Many sins (such as pornography and other addictions) are done under cover of darkness or in secret. Paul wrote about the “unfruitful works of darkness”: “For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret” (Ephesians 5:11-12).

But the Bible tells us, “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

And so we should choose to do the good, not the evil. Jesus Christ set us an example that we should “follow His steps”—do and act as He did (1 Peter 2:21).

The apostle Paul encouraged us to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10). Furthermore, he wrote that we should “walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Recognizing the seriousness of sin

Besides not really realizing that we can’t hide from God, there are additional reasons we often don’t understand the vital importance of overcoming our sins. We must recognize these flaws in our thinking and seek God’s help to realize how serious sin is. These flaws include:

1. Lacking fear and reverence for God and His laws.

We don’t naturally fear God or have deep respect for His law.

After God gave the Israelites His 10 Commandments at Mount Sinai, we read: “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin’” (Exodus 20:20).

The prophet Isaiah was inspired to record the following life-giving advice from God: “But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). God wants us to learn to be humble and to hold His Word in highest regard.

The psalmist made an astounding observation about evildoers and workers of iniquity: “Concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes.” Notice, the actions related to lacking the fear of God: “For he flatters himself in his own eyes . . . The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise and to do good . . . He does not abhor [reject, loathe] evil” (Psalm 36:1-4).

2. Not realizing that when we sin, we sin against God.

King David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts13:22), after his illicit relationship with Bathsheba, deeply repented of his sins. He came to realize, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight . . . Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:4, 6).

These and other scriptures should help us recognize how serious sin is. They should motivate us to battle against temptations and to avoid succumbing to sinful acts. Understanding this should make us ashamed and remorseful to realize that when we sin, we are defying and denying our Creator and Heavenly Father.

3. Not understanding that disobedience to God’s laws has severe consequences.

John Bunyan (a Puritan preacher and author of Pilgrim’s Progress) said: “One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner.” Unfortunately, many people have a blasé and nonchalant approach to sin.

The late Billy Graham (a well-known preacher) said, “Self-centered indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.” This is not only true in America, but in most countries of the world.

To Christians, the apostle Paul wrote: “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages [what we earn] of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23).

If we were given a survey asking us to choose between death and eternal life in the Kingdom of God, we would surely choose life. So why would anyone want to chose death by living a life of sin?

Moses is an example of a person who made a conscious choice “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin . . . for he looked to the reward  . . . For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:25-27).

What an example to follow!

4. Lacking understanding that sin spreads like a virus, contaminating others.

Returning to the example we started with, Achan said, “When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent” (Joshua 7:21).

Notice the progression to sin: he saw, then he desired, then he stole, then he hid the items. He allowed his thoughts to grow into wrong actions.

The nearer we get to sin, the stronger its pull. It is like a magnet—the closer it gets to a piece of iron, the easier it is for the two items to come together. But physical distance alone is not sufficient. Sin begins in the mind, and physical actions are the end result of those thoughts.

This is how the apostle James describes the progression of wrong thoughts to sin: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

As a result of the sins of one person, 36 men died (Joshua 7:5)—men who likely left behind wives, sons, daughters and other relatives. We need to be acutely aware that the evil of sin not only hurts us, but others as well.

Blessing of forgiveness

Our sins, even our hidden sins, can severely affect others. And our sins earn us the penalty of eternal death.

After the situation with Achan was resolved, God again began blessing the people affected by Achan’s sin—the people of Israel. The city of Ai was easily conquered with no loss of life (Joshua 8).

God wants to forgive and bless sinners who don’t conceal their sins but instead repent.And God wants to forgive and bless sinners who don’t conceal their sins but instead repent.

Proverbs 28:13 says: “He who covers [conceals] his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

King David understood this principle: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered [atoned for; forgiven] . . . I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:1, 5).

All humans are subject to weaknesses and fall prey to sinful actions from time to time. But God has made it possible for sins to be forgiven upon genuine repentance. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

We strive not to sin, but when we do, God is merciful and kind to forgive the repentant sinner (1 John 2:1-2; Psalm 103:15-18).)

What a wonderful blessing!

Examples for us

Read Joshua 7 again. This will help to imprint on our minds the importance of obeying God and, especially, of not hiding or concealing our sins.

Achan made a terrible mistake by disobeying and then hiding his sins. As the apostle Paul wrote, “These things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted” (1 Corinthians 10:6).

We must strive to live in harmony with the way our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have instructed us in the Bible. We must be willing to acknowledge any sin in our lives, especially habitual ones, and once we do, we must repent, always seeking God’s forgiveness and asking for His help to overcome.

This is the process of conversion—the way that leads to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Learn more in our article “How to Repent.”

Were You Born With Original Sin?

 

A widely held belief in the Christian world is that humans are born with the stain of original sin. Is this true? Is every baby born guilty of Adam’s sin?

Most people don’t look at babies and think of them as sinners deserving punishment. But a doctrine held by the largest Christian church teaches that babies are born with sin on their record.

This is known as the doctrine of original sin, and it is held (in one form or another) by some of the largest Christian denominations on earth.

What is the reasoning behind this doctrine? Is it true? Do babies inherit sin at birth? Is this what the Bible teaches about sin?

The doctrine of original sin and the fall of man

Though the idea can be traced back to multiple early Catholic writers, the theologian who did the most to develop the teaching was Augustine of Hippo. Augustine converted to Christianity from paganism nearly 300 years after the New Testament era.

The doctrine is based on the story of Adam and Eve. The interpretation is essentially that after Adam chose the forbidden fruit, his nature was altered and became inherently twisted and corrupt. But this change in nature didn’t just apply to Adam. According to Augustine and others, Adam’s sin resulted in the fall from grace of all human beings who came after him. This is often called the fall of man.

This view sees sin like a disease that is transmitted from parent to child before birth. Adam’s fall was the fall of all those who came from him—the entire human race. According to this view, not only did Adam and Eve’s offspring inherit Adam’s nature, but also his sin. Adam’s sin, or the original sin, as it came to be known, is seen as a stain on the soul that every human being is born with.

This is why many of the largest denominations who believe in original sin practice infant baptism. This baptism, usually by pouring water over the infant’s head, is done to remove original sin. For further insight into what the Bible teaches about this subject, read our online article “Infant Baptism.”

Did Adam’s sin pass on to his children?

Even though large segments of the Christian world adhere to these ideas, thinking Christians should look at doctrines that arose years after the New Testament record with a critical eye and ask: Is this rooted in the Bible—God’s inspired Word—or in the ideas of men?

First, the phrase original sin is found nowhere in the Bible. It was coined years after the Bible had been completed. Though Adam’s choice in Genesis 3 was certainly a sin, nowhere does the Genesis account say that his children inherited his sin. In fact, the first time the word sin appears in the Bible is when God warned Adam’s son Cain that “sin lies at the door” because of Cain’s anger issue (Genesis 4:6-7).

Certainly, Adam’s sin had consequences for his offspring. God proclaimed: “‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever’—therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken” (Genesis 3:22-23).

So we see:

• Adam and Eve chose to disobey God—to sin—after being tempted by the first sinner, Satan (see our online article “Satan: A Profile”). Everyone since has made that same choice. Sin entered the human realm, and each person goes down that path by his or her own choice.
• Because sin and death entered the human realm, Adam and his family disconnected themselves from God. They could no longer enjoy the blessings and perfect environment of the Garden of Eden or have access to the opportunity to live forever (Genesis 3:19; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:2).

Without a doubt, the consequences of Adam’s choice had an enormous effect on the history of his offspring.

The book of Proverbs puts it this way: “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies” (Proverbs 1:29-31).

In other words, Adam’s and his descendants’ choices to reject God and His way resulted in God’s cutting them off from Him and allowing them to experience “the fruit of their own way.” This is a reference to all the suffering they would bring on themselves by choosing the path of sin.

Sin is always a personal matter

When we look at the Bible’s teaching on sin, we see clearly that God always regards sin as a personal matter. In other words, sin is always imputed as a consequence of each individual’s choice to personally break the law of God (1 John 3:4).

Though a person’s sins can definitely result in physical consequences that impact others, the spiritual guilt falls only on the person who committed the sin.Though a person’s sins can definitely result in physical consequences that impact others, the spiritual guilt falls only on the person who committed the sin.

In the time of the prophet Ezekiel, there was a common belief that children somehow inherited the sins of their ancestors. This was expressed in a proverb that Ezekiel quoted: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ezekiel 18:2). This saying was so off base that God gave a detailed rebuttal of the idea of inherited sin (verses 3-32).

God’s refutation of this idea is summed up in verses 20 and 30: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. … Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways.”

The message is clear: God holds each individual accountable for his or her own personal sins. While sin’s consequences can impact future generations, God doesn’t hold people guilty for other people’s sins—not even Adam’s.

Jesus clearly taught that “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). People aren’t born a “slave of sin”—they become one when they first make the choice to commit sin. Many scriptures show that individuals carry only the guilt of their own personal sin (Isaiah 3:10-11; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 14:12).

To learn more about the Bible’s teaching on sin, read “What Is Sin?”

Does Romans 5 teach original sin?

The scripture that is most often quoted by proponents of “original sin” is Romans 5:12. The beginning of that scripture reads, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men …”

If you stop reading there, it could be interpreted to mean that death spread to “all men” because of the sin of the “one man” (Adam). But consider the last three words of the verse:

“…because all sinned” (emphasis added throughout).

Reading the last part as a whole makes it clear: “Death spread to all men because all sinned.” When Adam (the “one man”) chose to sin, sin entered the human realm (“the world”), and sin’s presence in the human realm resulted in the penalty of death (see Romans 6:23). Death, as a consequence of sin, spread to all men—because “all sinned.”

In other words, all of us have followed Adam’s example and sinned, therefore we all earned the same penalty he did. Paul wrote that clearly in Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Born into a sinful world

No, we weren’t born with the stain of Adam’s sin on our soul or conscience. But we were born into a world that has followed the same basic path that Adam chose in the Garden—a world that chooses to live its own way apart from God, that embraces sin in its many forms, and that continues to be under the sway of that deceptive serpent (1 John 5:19).

But the good news is that we can choose to come out of this world by repenting of our sins and being forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15-19). Taking that step can lead you off the wide, sinful path blazed by Adam and onto the narrow, righteous path blazed by Jesus Christ.

To learn how you can repent of your personal sins and pursue the way of life Adam rejected, read our articles on “How to Repent” and “What Is Conversion?”

Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet

 

Scarlet is a distinctive color that carries a lot of baggage. What does the biblical phrase “though your sins be as scarlet” mean? What is the Bible’s solution to this problem?

Whether the word scarlet brings to mind Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter), Margaret Mitchell (Gone With the Wind’s Scarlett) or Stan Lee (either the Marvel character or the actress with that name), it is a word with powerful connotations. Some of those come from the Bible.

Merriam-Webster.com gives these definitions of the English adjective scarlet:

“2 a: grossly and glaringly offensive ‘sinning in flagrant and scarlet fashion’—G.W. Johnson

“b [from the use of the word in Isaiah 1:18 & Revelation 17:1-6 (King James Version)]: of, characterized by, or associated with sexual immorality ‘a scarlet woman.’”

The word scarlet is actually used 49 times in the New King James Version of the Bible, mostly in a positive context. In fact, blue, purple and scarlet were used extensively in God’s tabernacle (see Exodus 25:4 and many other passages).

“Though your sins be as scarlet”

Still, the Bible does connect scarlet with sin.

In Revelation John saw a harlot dressed in scarlet and purple and riding on a scarlet-colored beast (Revelation 17:3-4). The context shows these represent evil religious and governmental powers that will make war with Jesus Christ at His return (verse 14; read more in our article “Revelation 17: Who Is the Scarlet Woman?”).

The other verse mentioned by Merriam-Webster is Isaiah 1:18, a key passage about how God views our sins, and how He deeply desires to forgive us.

“‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the LORD, ‘though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’”

The expression is better known as it was stated in the distinguished and long-dominant King James Version: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

The Hebrew words for scarlet, red and crimson

For background, let’s look at the meanings and connotations of the Hebrew color words in this verse: scarlet from Hebrew saniy (H8144), red from adam (H119) and crimson from tola (H8438).

Saniy (scarlet) “describes a bright red color with a tinge of orange in it. It was used to color ribbons, threads, etc., in the ancient world and was easily seen (Gen. 38:28, 30; Lev. 14:4). It was a featured color of various items in the Tabernacle (Ex. 25:4; 26:1; 27:16)” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament).

Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon connects this word with the insect from which the scarlet color dye was made.

Adam (red) is “a verb meaning to be red, ruddy, dyed red.” It can be used to describe people like Esau and David, or things like dyed ram skins and red wine. “Metaphorically, this word describes sin as ‘red like crimson’ (Isa. 1:18)” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament).

Tola (crimson) can also be translated purple and scarlet. “It refers to the color of one’s sins that stands out in a shocking way, drawing attention to its intensity. … These colors also are associated with royalty, [palatial] living, etc. (Lam. 4:5).”

A form of the word “refers to the colors attributed by scholars to expensive cloth materials or threads, ropes, chains, etc. of cloth, used in the materials found in the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Ex. 25:4; etc.; Num. 4:8). A scarlet string was involved in the ritual of cleansing a leper (Lev. 14:4, 6); a house (Lev. 14:49, 51, 52); and in the law of the red heifer (Num. 19:6)” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary Old Testament).

These Hebrew words could have good and bad connotations. Saying scarlet without context would not be automatically bad.

So let’s look at the context.

The context of “though your sins be as scarlet”

Isaiah 1:4 sets the scene:

“Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward.”

God sent Isaiah with a message of warning to his sinful nation—and it’s a message every sinful nation should take to heart.

The guilt of sin is a heavy burden. The word picture portrayed “an entire people, bowed and crushed under the enormous weight of accumulated crimes” (Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible, note on Isaiah 1:4).

Reading about the sin, corruption, oppression, violence and hypocrisy of Judah bears an uncanny resemblance to the worsening moral state of our nations today.Reading about the sin, corruption, oppression, violence and hypocrisy of Judah bears an uncanny resemblance to the worsening moral state of our nations today.

How God sees sin

In verse 6 Isaiah describes sin from God’s perspective:

“From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment.”

To God, their sins were like those that led to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 10). Even their outward show of religion was disgusting to God (verses 11-14).

God said, “Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood” (verse 15).

“The expression full of blood, denotes crime and guilt of a high order—as, in murder, the hands would be dripping in blood, and as the stain on the hands would be proof of guilt. It is probably a figurative expression, not meaning literally that they were murderers, but that they were given to rapine and injustice; to the oppression of the poor, the widow, etc.” (Barnes’ Notes, note on Isaiah 1:15).

“Though your sins be like scarlet” refers to the color of blood

It’s in this context of having their hands full of blood that God compares their sins with scarlet and crimson. This is the most obvious connection. Bloody hands are also mentioned in other passages in the Bible.

God hates “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17).

The phrase “blood is on their hands” is connected with murder, spiritual adultery and even child sacrifice in Ezekiel 23:37 and 45.

And Isaiah explains that God has great power and desires to help: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity” (Isaiah 59:2-3).

The next dozen verses continue the list of evils that displeased God. Violence, shedding innocent blood, injustice, oppression and revolt are among these iniquities that characterized the society of Isaiah’s day—and ours.

God’s call for repentance from sin

After noting “your hands are full of blood” in Isaiah 1:15, God calls on all sinners to change.

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” (verses 16-17).

Repentance involves not only acknowledging our sins, but a deep desire to become clean.Repentance involves not only acknowledging our sins, but a deep desire to become clean. This includes steps to stop sinning and do good instead. None of these things earn God’s forgiveness. Nothing we could do can earn God’s forgiveness. But they are prerequisites—the steps necessary to come to God. Read more about this in our article “How to Repent.”

God can forgive all sin, even murder

God can forgive—and has forgiven—even the sin of murder. God sent the prophet Nathan to point out King David’s great sins. “You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon” (2 Samuel 12:9).

And David cried out in heartfelt repentance. Part of his repentance is recorded in Psalm 51:14: “Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation.”

And the apostle Paul, before his conversion, was a zealous Pharisee and was guilty of persecuting the Church, causing innocent members to suffer martyrdom.

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest” (Acts 9:1).

But God struck him down and called him to the right path. Paul deeply appreciated what God had done in calling him to repentance and granting him forgiveness.

And Paul strongly warned the Corinthians—and us—that we must not continue in sin after we have been forgiven.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

We can be washed and cleansed, not by our own power, but by the awesome sacrifice that Jesus Christ gave.

The price for sins was paid by the blood of Jesus Christ

Sin is so horrible, so destructive, so evil, God’s perfect justice requires the death penalty to cleanse its stain.

Since we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and earned that death penalty (6:23), we can be eternally grateful that God in His great mercy has provided a way to pay for that penalty without our eternal death.

But that way required the death of our Creator, King and Savior—Jesus Christ.

How to make scarlet as white as snow

We can be “justified by His blood” (5:9). That means our past sins can be blotted out, cleansed. Figuratively we can be like those in Revelation 7:14 who “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

The book of Hebrews explains that the Old Testament sacrificial system purified the flesh as a type of the much greater sacrifice of Christ. Compared to the blood of bulls and goats, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).

Repentance is not just a one-time emotional act. It is a commitment to always repent of every sin and to strive to stop sinning. God does the cleansing, but the apostle Paul described the attitude and approach God wants to see in each of us as we strive to change and become like Him.

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation. … What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Corinthians 7:10-11; see a helpful explanation of this passage in our article “Godly Sorrow”).

“If you are willing and obedient”

After offering to cleanse our sins and make them as white as snow, God said, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword” (Isaiah 1:19-20).

God’s way ultimately produces blessings—and eternal life! But if we reject His merciful offer of cleansing, the end result will be curses and eternal death.

We have all sinned, and our sins are as scarlet and crimson to God. It’s as if our hands are covered with blood. We are responsible for the death of our Savior.

But He wants us to repent and change. This is the most important continuing commitment we can make. Study more about what God says about repentance, forgiveness, cleansing and living a life of Christian conversion in our concise free booklet Change Your Life!