When It Can't Be Fixed

It's a tough question. All Christians (all people) sin. Our only means of recourse is the forgiveness that Christ gives. And John writes, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Notice ... this "confess" -- agree with God about our sin -- produces forgiveness for the sins we confess and "all unrighteousness". Scripture says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21). In Him we are God's righteousness. Jesus said, "He who believes in Him is not judged" (John 3:18). Paul wrote, "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions" (Col 2:13). All our transgressions are forgiven in Him. So ... what about those sins that can't be fixed?

I'm not talking about unforgivable sins. I'm talking about unfixable sins. Maybe it's missed opportunities or harm that can't be undone. Jesus said remarriage after divorce is adultery, so what if you're remarried after divorce. How is that remedied? Maybe a married couple comes to believe it was God's command to have children and they're no longer able. How can that sin be fixed? Not forgiven, fixed. Paul lists a group of sins (just a short list, you understand) that rule people out of the kingdom. It includes people who have had sex outside of marriage and people who have committed adultery and people who have coveted (1 Cor 6:9-10). If you stop reading there, you'll realize we're not going to make it. I mean, we've done it all. We're out of luck. But Paul says, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor 6:11). Yes, we were those people ... but ... we're washed, sanctified, and justified. We are ... the righteousness of God in Christ.

It puts us in a strange position. On one hand, we are genuinely guilty of transgressions. On the other hand, we're forgiven. We can agree with God that X was a sin and agree with God that we're forgiven. We can be guilty without feeling guilt, not because we're not guilty but because we are justified by the blood of Christ. A clean slate. And Christ's words to the adulteress echo in our heads: "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more" (John 8:11). We agree with Joseph. "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Gen 50:20).