5 Steps to Move Forward After Falling Into Sin

We all have done it ; sin. Regardless of who you are, or where you are in your relationship with Christ, we all have fallen into the temptation to sin. Why? Because we are in the flesh and were born into sin. But because of the savior Jesus Christ, we have been saved through grace and have received forgiveness and the opportunity to repent from our sins. Thank God for His Son. But even though we have received this grace it does not give us the pass to continue in sin.

Romans 6: 1-2 

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

Though we have been saved through grace it does not give us the excuse to continue in sin. But do we? Of course, we do. We slip up. We make mistakes. We get sidetracked from the Word, and our relationship with Christ, and get distracted by the world and it's ways. It's normal, and you shouldn't beat yourself up about it. None of us our perfect. God knows that , which is why He sent us Jesus Christ. Though God has shown us grace, and is willing to wash us of our sins, we tend to still hold on to guilt and sometimes even think this is necessary to receive forgiveness. It is not. God is a God of conviction not condemnation. There is a difference. Instead of holding on to what you did from your past, take these steps to move on from your past mistakes and move forward in the life of freedom God has given you.

1. Realize That You Are Not The Only One. 

Romans 3:22-23 

 "...for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

You are not the only one who has fallen into sin. Doesn't matter if it's a pastor, ministry leader, or a new believer, we all are in the flesh and have the same chances to fall. God knew this about His children and that's why He gave us Jesus Christ. No one is better than anyone. No one has walked on water BUT Jesus. Don't feel that you are less than because of your sin. We ALL need Christ. 

2. Accept God's Grace & Mercy

Psalm 103:12

"As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us."

God is waiting on you to ask for forgiveness and receive his grace and mercy. Don't hold on to your sin as if you cannot go to God. He is waiting to take you back in and make you clean. The enemy wants you to hold on to your sin and feel that God will never let you come back and accept you. That is a LIE. God loves you and wants you to return to Him so He can make you as white as snow. Accept His love. Accept His grace. Accept His mercy.

3. Learn From Your Past

Proverbs 19:20

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise."

Now that you know where your weaknesses are, learn from it. You know what gets you to the point of falling into temptation so do what you can to resist it and have a plan of action. Don't be involved with premeditated sin. Don't place yourself in situations knowing that you will most likely fall. God has given us wisdom and insight; use it.

4. God Forgives but Earth Will Continue

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 

Understand that though God has forgiven you, consequences may still arise. If you murder someone, God forgives, but you will still go to jail right? Now God is gracious and He will still be with you through it all. Sometimes there are consequences, sometimes there aren't. But don't think that because there was a consequence that God has not forgiven you. He has. He forgave you a long time ago. But we are still on Earth.

5. Move Forward

 Isaiah 43:25

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
Don't hold on to what was done. It has happened and you can do nothing to change it. It is of your past. Learn from what occurred and forget about it. God has already forgotten your sin. Focus on your present and the life of freedom you will have in the future. God sees who you can be , not who you were.

www.chloemgooden.com

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Photo from Flickr by April. 

Taken on July 9th, 2013 License

                                          Link : https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

                                                     Scriptures via New Living Translation