Articles
Regaining Innocence
All individuals enter the world innocent and free from sin (Ezekiel 28:15; Romans 7:9). However, just like Adam and Eve lost their innocence when they sinned against God (Genesis 3:7-8), all men reach a point in life where they choose to violate God’s law (sin - 1 John 3:4) and thereby lose their innocence (Romans 3:23). Innocence is something many people may think is never possible to regain and yet the Bible teaches it is possible for one to be in an innocent state once again.
Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will be no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4, NKJV). Jesus teaches we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus does not mean by this we need to be lacking in understanding like children at times are (1 Corinthians 14:20). Jesus does not mean by this we need to be foolish as children sometimes are (Proverbs 22:15). Jesus does mean we need to have those praiseworthy qualities of children which sometimes we lose as we get older. Qualities like humility, a forgiving spirit, and innocence are things we need in order to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus also taught, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8, NKJV). Purity of heart is a necessity if we are going to see God. Without purity and holiness we cannot see God (Hebrews 12:14). Sin stains us and makes us impure and unholy. We obviously though are not doomed to remain in this state of impurity or unholiness forever. God has made it possible for us to be made pure (Acts 15:9; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:22) and holy (Colossians 1:22; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Titus 1:15 may give us a description of how a loss of innocence, holiness, or purity taints every aspect of our thinking and lives. It says, “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (NKJV). Perhaps you find yourself now or have found yourself at times in a place where you recognize your mind and conscience are defiled rather than holy and pure. Perhaps you now or have in the past wanted to get back to a place where your mind, conscience, etc. can once again be pure. How is it possible for people who have sinned against God to regain their innocence?
One regains one’s innocence by recognizing one’s spiritual need (Matthew 5:3). One must recognize they are lost and need saving. One must be willing to mourn over one’s sins and allow godly sorrow over sin to produce repentance (Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 7:9-11). One must be willing to meekly submit to whatever God commands one to do (Matthew 5:5; James 1:21). One must be willing to long for righteousness with the same sort of fervency as someone who is hungry or thirsty would long for food or drink (Matthew 5:6). One who has these type of qualities will be willing to take the steps God tells us we need to take in order to have our sins forgiven so we can once again be innocent, pure, and holy before God. He teaches we must believe (John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6). He teaches we must repent or turn away from those things that are wrong and start doing those things that are right (Acts 17:30). He teaches we must confess our faith in Jesus (Romans 10:10). He teaches we must be baptized into Christ and then we will rise to walk in a new life (Romans 6:3-4). When we are baptized into Christ, we are born again (John 3:3-5) and we are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are once again free from sin and innocent, pure, and holy before God. If regaining your innocence is something that appeals to you, we encourage you to do what God teaches so you can have your sins be forgiven and once again stand before God as one innocent and free from sin.
