Faithful to Forgive
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9
Do you remember if-then statements from school? Let's review. The first part of the statement is conditional: it may or may not happen. But if that condition does happen, whatever is described in the second half of the statement will happen.
Like these if-then statements, mathematical formulas are black and white; there is no gray. Two plus two does not equal fourish. it equals four. Three minus one does not equal generally somewhere close to two.
Look again at today's passage, a most profound if-then statement: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Notice that the statement doesn't say God might be faithful or there's a possibility He will be faithful. It says God is faithful. There is no gray area.
Also, sins are not qualified as big sins or little sins which, after all, is a human construction. This simply says "sins," meaning all sins. God given, whether or not we've forgiven ourselves, if we truly confess our sins as sins before the Lord, He forgives them.
Don't cover your sins. Confess! What guilt or regret are you dwelling on or reliving today? If you've confessed it, God has forgiven it. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
Prayer : Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. Help me to forgive myself as You forgive me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do you remember if-then statements from school? Let's review. The first part of the statement is conditional: it may or may not happen. But if that condition does happen, whatever is described in the second half of the statement will happen.
Like these if-then statements, mathematical formulas are black and white; there is no gray. Two plus two does not equal fourish. it equals four. Three minus one does not equal generally somewhere close to two.
Look again at today's passage, a most profound if-then statement: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Notice that the statement doesn't say God might be faithful or there's a possibility He will be faithful. It says God is faithful. There is no gray area.
Also, sins are not qualified as big sins or little sins which, after all, is a human construction. This simply says "sins," meaning all sins. God given, whether or not we've forgiven ourselves, if we truly confess our sins as sins before the Lord, He forgives them.
Don't cover your sins. Confess! What guilt or regret are you dwelling on or reliving today? If you've confessed it, God has forgiven it. "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
Prayer : Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. Help me to forgive myself as You forgive me. In Jesus name, Amen.
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