Do you have a Sin Consciousness?

The above question is extremely important, and every Christian should make an effort to answer it as truthfully as possible. Most Christians know that the most important thing provided for us through the blood of Jesus was the forgiveness of our sins. But the mere forgiveness of sins does not necessarily include the removal of a consciousness of sin. And unfortunately for many Christians, the answer to the above question is still “yes.”

In the following passage in Hebrews 10:1-3 there is a remarkable statement concerning a sin consciousness:

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

The author is referring to the Old Testament practice of atoning for sin, and thereby providing forgiveness, through the sacrifice of animals. The phrase “year by year” is a reference to the Day of Atonement - an annual ceremony where a sacrifice was offered for all the people in order to cleanse them from their sins.

Verse 2 makes it clear, however, that these worshippers had already been purified. This is based on the presumption that these people had sinned at various times throughout the year, and at such times they went to the temple and offered the sacrifices that were required to provide atonement for their sins so that forgiveness could be granted. Having done so, they were forgiven, and “cleansed” from their sins before God. (Hebrews 9:22)

The point this passage is making is that even though these people had already been cleansed from their sins in the eyes of God, it was still necessary to offer another sacrifice annually for the sins of the people - thereby proving that they had not been completely cleansed in their conscience. The sacrifices themselves were insufficient to make the worshippers perfect in regard to their conscience. (Hebrews 9:9) Therefore they were always carrying around a sin consciousness, even after being forgiven.

A powerful illustration of this principle is found in the life of David. In 1 Chronicles 21 David takes a census of the people, and in doing so, angers God. As a result of this act, judgment falls on the nation in the form of a plague. God then informs David that he must build an altar and offer sacrifices in order for the plague to be stopped. David does so, and God answers him with fire from heaven on the altar – indicating that he had accepted David’s sacrifice and forgiven him, and the plague is stopped.

But then in verses 29-30 we are told that even though the tabernacle that Moses made (which was the place where men would go to meet with God) was at Gibeon, David would not go to it because he was afraid. Even though God had accepted his offering and forgiven him, David’s own conscience would not allow him to go before God.

Sadly many Christians are in a similar situation. Even though the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all sin – even to core of our conscience (Hebrews 9:14), many Christians still live with a sin consciousness. But if we ever hope to walk in the freedom to which we have been called, we must let go of a sin consciousness once and for all.