How can we avoid the denial of sin seen in Jeremiah 2:35? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah’s Warning “Yet you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ But I will bring judgment upon you because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’” (Jeremiah 2:35) Judah’s problem was not merely doing wrong but refusing to admit it. The same danger lurks today if we silence conviction instead of confessing sin. Spotting the Roots of Denial • Pride—placing personal reputation above God’s assessment (Proverbs 16:18). • Presumption—assuming God overlooks sin because of past blessings (Jeremiah 7:4). • Self-deception—believing feelings over facts (1 John 1:8). • Comparison—measuring ourselves against others rather than God’s standard (Luke 18:11-12). Cultivating a Truth-Loving Heart • Embrace God’s verdict first. His word is the plumb line for right and wrong (Hebrews 4:12). • Invite examination. “Search me, O God… and see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). • Confess quickly. “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). • Remember accountability. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Daily Practices that Keep Us Honest 1. Scripture Intake – Read with a yielded will; let the text read you (James 1:23-25). 2. Spirit-Led Prayer – Ask for conviction and clarity, not comfort alone (John 16:8). 3. Regular Self-Examination – “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). 4. Transparent Fellowship – Share struggles with trusted believers; “confess your trespasses to one another” (James 5:16). 5. Quick Obedience – Act on revealed truth immediately; delayed obedience breeds excuses (Psalm 119:60). Walking in the Light Together • Corporate worship keeps hearts tender under God’s word (Colossians 3:16). • Biblical discipline restores the wandering while warning the rest (Galatians 6:1). • Communion reminds us we were bought at a price, motivating holiness (1 Corinthians 11:28-29). Remembering the Gospel’s Cure “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Confession is not despair but hope: acknowledging sin drives us to the cross where forgiveness and power to change are guaranteed. Denial ends when we trust the One who bore our guilt and gives new life that loves truth more than image. |
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