We Sin Against God Alone

"Sin is an attitude of heart, common to everyone, which repudiates God’s right to possess what He made, control what He designed, and fulfill what He planned. . . . Forgiveness for sin can only come from God." (Stuart Briscoe, The Fullness of Christ).


I’ve often wondered why King David, in Psalm 51, wrote: "Against You, You alone, have I sinned" (v. 4a) when it was obvious that David’s sin was far more reaching than just against God. David had, through his adultery (and through the immoral use of his kingly authority) sinned against Bathsheba. He had, through murder, sinned against Uriah. He had, through his preference for this new wife, sinned against the other members of his family. He had, through his lies and desire to hide his actions, sinned against the nation. But in Psalm 51, he stated, "Against You (God), You alone."

Stuart Briscoe succinctly hits the nail on the head: When we sin, we rebel against God’s authority, an authority that is not only logical (since He is the Creator), but is foundational to this very creation. God made, God designed, God planned. And yet, we want to rip out of His hands the inherent rights and authorities of possession, of control, of fulfillment and take those rights as our own.

We want to rule what we haven’t created. We want ownership of our lives when our lives aren’t ours to own. We want to make our own plans and let God sit forgotten on the sidelines (or better yet, become invisible). We want to live as if we actually can take credit for who and what we are.

The Internet is filled with articles about us learning to forgive others and to forgive ourselves. But I think that our problems lie directly in the truth Briscoe wrote: "Forgiveness for sin can only come from God." 

When we look to find peace by forgiving ourselves or asking others to forgive us, we ignore the point. Sin always begins when we rebel against God. Everything else is a by-product of that one point. And yet, as believers, how much time do we give to spending time with God, asking for His forgiveness. The Bible clearly teachesthat He will readily forgive:

"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion" (Numbers 14:18a NIV)

"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them." (Psalm 32:1-2a NIV).

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good abounding in love to all who call to You" (Psalm 86:5 NIV).

To those who call to You.

The Lord’s forgiveness comes when we call on Him, when we come to Him in prayer and ask Him for forgiveness. He is readily willing to forgive, but He isn’t tolerant. He doesn’t excuse our sin; He forgives it. And that forgiveness comes when we come humbly to the Throne, repent of our sin, and ask for His forgiveness. Forgiveness comes when we recognize, once and for all, Who God is and who we are.

© 2016 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.