Sin is a real, positive evil. The Greek word itself means to “miss the mark”. Each and every one of us have missed the mark of God’s perfection by our sinful decisions. It is an outright rebellion against God’s Law and standard of righteousness. When we violate God’s Law through our own willing sin, it’s a contradiction to the holiness of God and reveals our own sinfulness of the heart, mind, and action. We both sin because we are sinners and are sinners because we sin. The Bible declares that the wages of sin is death, eternally but the gift of God is eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus alone has satisfied the wrath of God upon the cross and rose again from the dead to prove it!

Here are 8 things you can do about sin:

1. Repent of your sin.

Acts 2:38 (NLT) Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2. Confess your sin. 

1 John 1:9 (NLT) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

3. Forgive others of their sin against you.

Matthew 6:14–15 (NLT) If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

4. Love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT) Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

5. Walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 (NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

6. Walk in the Light

1 John 1:7 (NLT) But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

7. Show a sinner the error of their way.

James 5:19–20 (NLT) My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

8. Help Restore a Sinner back to God

Galatians 6:1–3 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.