Sin. That three-letter word that has haunted humankind since Adam and Eve surrendered to temptation in the garden. It is our past sin that creeps in and turns our dreams into nightmares at night. It disturbs our thoughts as we drive, play with our kids, or take a shower. Our past sin replays in our minds like a flashback in a movie that we cannot pause or erase.

Why can’t we move forward? What keeps us stuck reliving it? Let us look and see what God says about sin and get to the bottom of it.

“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

Sin cannot enter heaven. In order to enter, we must be pardoned for all of our wrongdoing. When we do things, why do we need forgiveness? Our sin separates us from God. God is perfect and righteous, so those who lie, commit sexual sin, steal, or put other things before God are in sin.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” 1 Corinthians 6:9a

 If we are truly sorry for our sins, that means we have asked for forgiveness and are trying not to sin anymore; another word for this is repentance. God will forgive us. He is a faithful Father and just judge. He will cleanse us from all our wrongdoings. We can trust Him to keep His word.

Unlike people in our lives, God will not bring it back up and hold it against us. Once we have asked Him for forgiveness, it is finished.

Many religions believe that you can earn your way into heaven. Their faith is based on works; if you do enough good works to outweigh the bad, you will be allowed in.

Christianity is different. Let us examine what God says about our works.

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Isaiah 64:6

When Isaiah compares our righteous deeds to a polluted garment, he is actually referring to menstrual rags. Yes, you read correctly, our blood-soaked tampons or pads. Remember, in Biblical times, they had to use cloth garments. Keep that image in your mind. All the good works we do to be good enough and earn our salvation are like those monthly blood-soaked tampons and pads.

For years, I served as much as I could and tried to atone for my sins through my good works. All it did was leave me burnt out, weary, and wanting. I never felt good enough or worthy of God’s forgiveness. No matter what I was told or what I read, I felt as if I had to ‘do’ something. Then I read Ephesians 2:8-9.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Grace is God’s unmerited favor, which cannot be earned, and we do not deserve.

Through our faith in God, we are saved. It’s that easy. Why do we complicate it?

If we did have to earn it, can you imagine the arrogance of Christians? Sin would abound as we boasted about how much more we deserved our salvation over others. We serve and do good works because we love God and want to glorify Him, not because our Salvation is dependent upon it.

Friend, if you are struggling with your sin, ask God to forgive you today. Don’t hold on to it any longer. He is a patient Father waiting for you.

If you are burning yourself out striving to earn your way to heaven, stop. Ask God to forgive you and trust in His grace. Jesus’ sacrifice was enough.

What do you wish someone had told your younger self so you might not have struggled with your sin or doing ‘good work’ to earn your way into heaven?