Go and Sin No More

We follow Jesus as He continues His ministry, exploring the Lenten theme of repentance. God calls us to turn away from our sin, but He begins by extending forgiveness to us. 

From an Africa Study Bible touch point:

Marius Victorinus (c. AD 300–370) was born in Africa. He became a philosopher and an important teacher of rhetoric in Rome. He wrote:

Our sinful nature does not cause us simply to commit sin, but to persist in it. This is why the apostle says, “If you are a thief, quit stealing.” He also says, “Stop telling lies.” There is always a place for correction. There is always a place for repentance. This should be applied not just to stealing and lying, but to all sin. Anyone who has sinned in any way is now called not to sin again. 

And in Ephesians 4:30-32, Paul said we are not to “bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way” we live, and gave five examples of actions that bring such sorrow—bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander. Then he summarised these with the phrase “all types of evil behaviour.” 

Today: 

God’s forgiveness encourages us to start fresh. Today, ask God to help you “go and sin no more” in one area of your life. One way you can do this is by praying with a close confidante who is a mature Christian. Ask him or her to hold you accountable to walk away from sinful choices and to avoid the circumstances that lead to that particular sin.