Look To Jesus

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV).

It does not take a genius to recognize that our world is stained with sin. Sin is all around us. It is on TV, whether it is a sitcom or an advertisement . It is even on the Internet, including search engines if you are not too careful. The Bible says that sin clings to us so closely or as the NIV (1984 edition) puts it, "the sin that so easily entangles" us. As Christians we are called to lay it aside because it can easily entangled us like a Boa constrictor.

As Christians, we have hope from sin. We are saved from the penalty of the sin, which is justification, and in our live in the here and now, we are being saved from the power of sin, which is sanctification. The only One who can save us is Jesus that is why we can look at Him. Whenever we are tempted to sin, we look to Him because He endured the cross where He took the wrath of God for us so we can be reconciled to God.

When we sin, can still look to Him and come to Him to confess our sin:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 1:9, 2:1-2, ESV).

Look to Jesus. He is the founder and perfecter of our faith. He is the One who can take our sin and give us favor with God.