Questions for further study:

1) Pastor Sam read from Romans 3:23, which states that “All have sinned and fallen short…”  Read 1 John 1:8-10.  What happens if anyone claims to be without sin?

2) Study the parable in Luke 18:13-14.  Jesus compares two types of attitudes relating to sin.  Which attitude does Jesus say is acceptable to God?  How does Jesus say the two men in this story will be judged?

3) Read what the Bible says about different types of sin.  Psalm 19:13 (willful sin), Matthew 26:41 (sin of weakness), James 4:17 (sin of omission), and Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28 (sin of attitude).  Does God judge one kind of sin more harshly than another?   See Romans 6:23.

4) Compare Ecclesiastes 7:20 with Psalm 92:15.  How does our righteousness compare to God’s?  What are the dangers of comparing our sin with that of other people?  Are any of us “good enough” to stand in God’s presence apart from Christ?

5) Is there anything you can repent of that God will not forgive?  Why is that?  Study 1 John 2:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.  What makes this justification possible?