If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
After he finished his third round at the Tour Championship last fall, a Sports Illustrated headline read, “In Calling a (Pricey) Penalty on Himself, Sahith Theegala Takes the High Road.”
That penalty likely cost Theegala millions after a two-shot penalty he called on himself after sensing he might have grazed a few grains of sand during his backswing from a fairway bunker.
The Pepperdine grad ended up third, six shots behind winner Scottie Scheffler and two behind Collin Morikawa. It’s impossible to know how much those two shots impacted him in the end, but based on the purse, a tie with Morikawa would have earned an extra $2.5 million.
Congrats to Theegala, who lived out Titus 2:11-12: “God’s grace…teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness…and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
And then there was pro golfer Justin Doeden, who forgot the saying “cheaters never win.” He stood accused of changing his score at the Canadian Ottawa Open in July of 2023 after his playing partner had signed his card.
That shameless act meant his incorrect score would be good enough to make the 36-hole cut by one stroke at T-60. It also would have prevented 13 other players from making the cut and deprived them of earning a paycheck.
Players first noticed something wasn’t right about his 3-under during lunch and reported it to officials, who discovered Doeden used an eraser to change his score. He withdrew from the tournament during the investigation and did not respond to requests from the press for a comment.
The 28-year-old later posted on Twitter: “I am here to confess the biggest mistake I have made in my life to date. I cheated in golf. This is not who I am. I let my sponsors down. I let my competitors down. I let my family down. I let myself down. I pray for your forgiveness. 1 John 1:9.”
Congrats to Doeden, who lived out 1 John 1:8-10 MSG: “If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God.”
It’s an interesting “ask,” isn’t it, this forgiveness. You don’t earn it. Romans 3:24 “We are justified freely by His grace.” That is great news! God makes me just-as-if I’d never sinned. Because I deserve it? No. Because I earn it? No. But because of grace. “It’s not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy….” Titus 3:5
We can confess our sin now and ask for forgiveness, or live with the guilt and hide. Ultimately, it’s true, sin will find you out. It’s also true that grace is available to you. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your grace. Everything you do in us, for us, through us, and to us, you do by grace through faith in Jesus.