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Going By Faith

Christian Encouragement for Everday Life

10 Ways We Sin Without Knowing

April 10, 2011 By Jen 24 Comments

how we sin without knowingWe know sin exists and most of us think we know what it looks like, but sin can be sneaky. There are times we sin without knowing … or maybe without wanting to know.

Sin doesn’t just happen. First there is temptation, and then there is a choice.

Romans 6:12 tells us: “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”

“Let” implies choice. We have free will, and therefore we have a choice to choose God or to choose sin.

So if we have a choice, then how do we sin without knowing?

Secret Sin… and What to Do About It

Last week we talked about the “secret” self — and how despite our attempts to hide, God already knows our secrets. Once we realize this, we also realize just how much we need him in those dark rooms.

But some dark rooms go unclaimed. Yes, they exist, but we don’t feel connected to them, so it’s like we can’t see them. We act out of them, react to them and defend them, but for some reason (pride? insecurity?) we remain in denial.

I heard a sermon that once referred to them as “blind spots.”

Below are 10 sins that we don’t often acknowledge as sin. Review the list as a preparation, but then take the real challenge.

This week begins the series Uncovering Sin and Finding Forgiveness. If you really want God to search your heart and see if you sin without knowing, this is for you. To read part one, click here.

10 sins that often slip by as “OK” in our daily life:

1. Holding grudges
2. Justifying wrong attitudes
3. Putting your desires first (before God)
4. Feeling annoyed over the success of others
5. Getting hurt easily and reacting out of the hurt
6. Underpaying (taking advantage of others’ work)
7. Skimping on the work you are being paid to do
8. Criticizing and finding fault — secretly or outwardly
9. Focusing on the cares of the world — putting your full attention and trust in the “things” of the world, like money, power, possessions and image. When we allow that to define us, we lose focus of who we are in Christ. This doesn’t mean not caring about what happens in the world.
10. Gossiping or speaking unkindly of those not present

Go through the list again. If you can say “yes” to an item, confess it. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart for cleansing. Thank God for the miracle he is performing in your life!

We can find peace in remembering this: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Amen!!

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

Filed Under: Coming Clean

Comments

  1. Hua says

    April 11, 2011 at 11:41 am

    Sigh… guilty on all ten counts, and more I bet!

    Reply
    • your mom says

      December 5, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      is everything okay now?

      Reply
  2. david says

    April 11, 2011 at 11:42 am

    Great post Jen, thanks for what I think is true encouragement – a way out from those “hard-to-reach places.” Glory to God!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Johns says

    April 11, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Thank God for being merciful!

    Reply
  4. THEOPHILUS says

    July 6, 2011 at 11:21 am

    Thank GOD For being merciful

    Reply
  5. SANI DANIEL says

    August 31, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    I also want to add of the sins listed above .this is a deadly sin which we taking as pleasure but as i said we need to very carefuly of this sin. which is FORNICATION AND ADULTERY.

    Reply
  6. Jennifer Johns says

    August 31, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    Agreed Sani. Jesus said that if you so much as look at a woman with lust you commit adultery. (Matthew 5:27)

    This isn’t at all what the world teaches us, especially with so many lustful images all around and the idea that “sex sells.” There are many ways to commit sexual sin without having a physical act … perhaps a great topic for a blog post.

    Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Enobong says

    May 2, 2012 at 6:53 am

    I get hurt easily and react to it.what should i do

    Reply
    • Elizabeth W. says

      January 26, 2018 at 2:14 pm

      Pray for forgiveness! Confess your sins! God will cleanse and help you, and all you need to do is ask. God bless you!

      Reply
    • Emma says

      February 27, 2021 at 6:02 am

      Try praying

      Reply
  8. Jenny says

    June 13, 2015 at 11:45 am

    I truly am enjoying learning and studying from these articles~!!!! Thanks And God Bless

    Reply
  9. chioma says

    November 15, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    Thank u for helping me with this message

    Reply
  10. Albertinia says

    June 5, 2016 at 3:48 am

    Thank you for this message i wil ask god to change me because i love him so much

    Reply
  11. KUFFOUR RABBI GILBERT says

    December 21, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    Thank God so much for this wonderful post.
    It has really helped me a lot.

    Reply
    • Jenn Johns says

      December 23, 2016 at 9:38 pm

      You’re welcome! God bless you.

      Reply
  12. da says

    January 4, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    woow, u nailed it. Thanks men

    Reply
  13. owusu eric says

    June 27, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    thanks and i want to say that not paying tithes and not giving out our first fruit is also a sin in the bible

    Reply
  14. Ayatollah says

    February 20, 2018 at 10:08 pm

    How do I stop being annoyed of others success

    Reply
  15. Loretta Blackburn says

    March 27, 2019 at 8:34 am

    I am guilty, I ask Jehovah God to forgive me and help me

    Reply
  16. Chris says

    April 5, 2019 at 10:09 am

    Wow, I did half of these without even realizing. Great thing is that today is a new day and I already prayed to God to grant me strength over my temptations. Thanks for the great article.

    Reply
  17. Le Tran Hai Thu says

    April 20, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    Thank God for your merciful!

    Reply
  18. Clarence Rodgers Bolton says

    November 7, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    This was great. Was working on a Sermon and needed some examples of sins that we don’t consider sins. Hit it right on the head!!

    Reply
  19. Hi says

    January 28, 2021 at 11:57 am

    Thank You

    Reply
  20. mankind says

    March 12, 2021 at 12:25 am

    I thank God an Jesus for every thing they have done for me.

    Reply

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