Sin is an offense committed against God, against our neighbor, or against ourselves: in other words, any thought, action or omission that harms instead of helping. When we sin, we turn our backs on God’s love and cut ourselves off from His grace and love. The soul is rebelling against God’s will and working against the plan of healing and hope that God has for us all.
In order for our sins to be forgiven, we need to beg for our Lord’s forgiveness and perform acts of penance - try to fix the wrongs we have done. Read on to discover 13 biblical teachings on sin and, with Hozana, rediscover the joy of God’s forgiveness!
“He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” (Mark 7:20-23)
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45)
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers” (Psalm 1:1)
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24)
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51, 1-2)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
Temptations to sin by thought, action and omission are frequent, and we constantly need to ask for our Lord’s forgiveness and mercy! Join one of Hozana’s prayer communities to rediscover the grace of forgiveness!