A Fresh Start After Sexual Sin

by Rick Warren — June 29, 2024
From Building My Life on Values That Last

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 (NIV)

God’s standards never change: Premarital sex is unacceptable. It always has been. It always will be. Living together without getting married is unacceptable to God. It always has been. It always will be. Adultery—being unfaithful in your marriage—is unacceptable to God. It always has been. It always will be. Pornography is unacceptable to God. It always has been. It always will be.

But if you’ve been guilty of one of those sins, that’s not the end of your story. God gives you a chance to come clean and start over.

How do you do that?

Repent. Repent means “to change your mind.” You say, “You were right, God. I was wrong. What I did was sin.” You don’t rationalize your sin or excuse it. The most important part is, you do this now. If you’re currently in the middle of an affair, end it today.

Receive forgiveness. God is waiting to forgive, cleanse, and restore you. He’ll release you from the shame, regrets, hidden hurts, and pain that come from your sin so you don’t carry them into your next relationship. God wants to wipe the slate clean. The good news is, once he’s forgiven you, you can forgive yourself.

Refocus and replace. You make a commitment to live morally pure by God’s standard from this day forward. That means having sex only with the person you’re married to.

Request help daily. Commit your life to Christ (if you haven’t already). Ask him to help you manage your mind, because you know that your decisions about sex start with the way you think. Don’t just ask him for help for the next week or the next month. Ask him for help every day—even minute by minute as you fight to stay sexually pure.

Your sexual drive can destroy you if you let it. It’s your choice! Choose to repent and receive God’s forgiveness today. God will give you a fresh start and will even bless your future relationship when you follow him in faith.

Talk It Over

  • If there is a sexual sin from your past that you haven’t repented of, walk through the steps above so that your fresh start can begin today.
  • How does our culture try to convince you that truth changes?
  • Why is it important not to carry shame or regret into your next relationship?

Have you committed your life to Christ?

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. You only need to believe and receive.

Confess your sins and ask God to forgive you. Claim the promise of his grace through Jesus Christ, that salvation is free and open to anyone who turns from their sins and agrees to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Humbly ask God to accept you into his forever family.

Are you ready? Then pray this simple prayer: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know it is only be your grace that I can be saved.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You paid for my sins and made me acceptable for heaven, and I accept you as my Lord and Savior. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, and certainly, and completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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