If anyone ever sins, it is an anxiety issue. Being anxious to get our way rather than rest in God’s way who is Jesus, we sin. So our joy does not come from not sinning, but in the forever forgiveness of our sins.
Sin causes us pain, emotional and physical. Yet, to believe that our suffering from such pain is the work of God as if we’re getting what we deserve is understood as God’s condemning us when in reality it is we who are condemning our own selves with such hopeless understanding.
The gospel is not that we had stopped sinning, but that Jesus had died for the forgiveness of our sins. So our joy will never be found in not doing anything to experience pain and suffering. Instead, our joy and comfort is found in the knowledge of the forgiveness of our sins, the rebirth of our spirit as children of God, the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit to serve us comfort especially in moments where we can’t tell right from wrong.
Matthew recorded of Jesus having said,
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life..”
” Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…”
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow…” (Matthew 6:25-34)
Anxiety causes us to sin. Being entangled with doubts and fears and shames, we rush with our decisions as if doing so guarantees us of the outcome we hope.
Paul knows himself and notices how people jump to conclusion without much thinking, like he has done countless of times. He finds it beneficial to say,
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Now how do we go about not being anxious when we’re always worrying about one thing versus another? Only when we remember that God is in control of our needs and that He will continue to care for us just as he had cared for us from the time we were conceived in the womb of our mothers to the time our bodies will enter the womb of the earth.
Anxiety causes us to sin. Jesus sets our hearts at peace.
Because of Jesus living in us, we are now free to not be anxious about anything, knowing that he is the way to understand, address, accomplish anything that needs such attention.
If I was to paraphrase the gospel to you or myself, in the Spirit of Jesus yet my words, I would say:
“It’s ok. You can sin. Not that you should, but that you can, meaning you have such ability to sin. I’m sure that by now you realize that’s the one thing you do most often in your mind. What you need to know and always remember is that I have already died for you to relieve you of the final outcome of your sins, which is you in your mind being separated from God. Knowing that you are ok with God, not because of your ability not to sin, but because of my blood shed for you, because of God’s love for you, despite all the moments and times you will fall, just remember that you’re falling on me, your Savior, Jesus”
When we pay so much attention to our sins, depression comes along resulting to anxiety leading to more sins. When we pay so much attention to the salvation of our souls from God through Christ by his Spirit, relief comes along resulting to rest leading to joyful works reflecting the state of mind of God, reflecting Jesus, the light of the world, Jesus, the savior of all mankind.
Jesus is the well of the living water, the Holy Spirit. 