Sin matters, because sin makes us slaves. Faith, on the other hand, opens the door to freedom.

When people are asked to define sin, the answers include disobedience, naughtiness, and sex. Those answers aren’t how people in Jesus’s time described sin. They had a clear understanding of sin that we don’t. Back then everyone knew that sin was anything that distanced you from God.

By living spiritual lives, we can grow in right relationship with God. Even so, sin still happens. We treat God as irrelevant, We become selfish. We lash out at others. And that’s where Jesus changes everything. Pastor Mia tells us that when Jesus pulls us into right relationship with God, he’s also freeing us for better lives.

Prophets and ancient writers called forgiveness a mark of the people of God. This week, Pastor Mia talks about what forgiveness is and isn't. Forgiveness is tricky and it's necessary.

Forgiveness is an intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger. Being outraged is okay. The way you handle your feelings is what matters. When you've been wronged, do you retaliate or move on?

For abuse victims the idea of forgiveness can be a twisted, loaded concept. When they've been told, "If you were a good Christian, you would forgive," without any repentance, they are really being told to pretend the abuse didn't happen and even allow it to continue. That is not forgiveness. It's actually cooperation with evil.

Forgiveness and reconciliation are two different things. Reconciliation happens when the wrongdoer takes responsibility and makes amends. Forgivess is foregoing retaliation while holding the wrongdoer accountable. Ulitmately, we forgive not because of the wrongdoer's action or inaction, but because Jesus has forgiven each of us.

When we do something wrong, many of us handle the unpleasant consequences with the anxiety of avoidance rather than the misery of confession. The fear of the unknown can override our thinking and morality. The disciple Peter let that happen.

Peter betrayed Jesus three times following Jesus' arrest. Then heavy guilt settled in. After the resurrection, Peter evaded Jesus until a moment of reconciliation at the end of a fishing trip. That’s when Peter understood that Christ’s love outweighed his sin.

Peter went on to become the head of the church. It was his failing as a disciple that made him a good Christian leader. This week, Pastor Mia shows us that because God promised compassion, failure can be a springboard to success.