“No one’s perfect.” Apart from Jesus, this of course is very true. None of us are perfect, flawless people. If we were, we wouldn’t need Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. This idea that no one is perfect can become a crutch, however, and get used as an excuse when we sin. While we are not perfect, that is the goal we are to strive toward as we walk with Jesus each day.

“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

While we are not sinless we should, the more we walk with Christ, sin less. This is simple logic: the more time you spend in the Light, the less darkness there will be. But what happens when we do sin? What happens when we stray from Jesus’ side to go play in the dark again? How do we respond? How do we approach God after sinning? Scripture gives us two different reactions to this very scenario.

“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.” (Genesis 3:8)

“Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It’s the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.” (John 21:7)

Adam and Eve had just disobeyed the one rule God had given them, and when they heard God walking in the garden they hid from him. Blood had not yet been shed to cover sin and shame and so Adam and Eve were overwhelmed by their shame and they ran and hid from God. It is only after God finds Adam and Eve and they confess what they had done that God covers their shame with the skins of an animal. 

Conversely, when Peter saw Jesus on the shore, a few days after having denied knowing Jesus three times, Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to Him. After the cross, now that Jesus’ blood has washed away all sin and shame, we are able to jump out of the boat and swim to our Lord after straying from Him. We have no need to hide in our shame because Jesus has already taken that shame upon Himself. Whatever sin you have committed, Jesus has already paid for it. Blood always covers over sin, and Jesus’ blood covers all sin for all time.

“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)

“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” (1 John 2:2)

“For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:10)

This is no excuse to keep on sinning or make a practice of sinning. Never use the fact that Jesus has paid for your sins as an excuse to willfully commit more of them.

“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

“Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.” (1 John 3:9)

“We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.” (1 John 5:18)

No one is perfect, so what will you do? Will you hide from God or run to Him? After the cross, we have no need to hide in shame; we can jump out of the boat and swim to our Lord’s open arms. Our sin and shame has been paid for, our records have been cleared. We know the truth and now no longer live in sin but we live in Christ. Walk closely with our Lord and should you sin along the way, run to His open arms and feel the embrace of His grace and forgiveness. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed