I think we can all say that we struggle with sin, at least I hope we are honest enough with ourselves to admit that. The temptations we face aren't easy for us to flee from, and again if we are honest, sometimes we don't want to flee from them. I have been reading through 1 John the past few days and today God brought this verse to my remembrance.
"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
I just want to take a quick look at this verse and point out some things that stuck out to me as I reread this verse today.
First I saw a condition, the condition is "If we confess our sins". Here the Bible tells us that we have a choice to make, we can either confess our sins or we can keep fighting God insisting that we have not sinned. This confession is simple, all we have to do is agree with God that we are in the wrong and that He is right. It is simple but not easy to do, our pride doesn't want to admit that we are wrong and Satan will use that against us to prevent renewed and restored fellowship with our Father.
Secondly I saw a constant, the constant is "He is faithful and just". Here the Bible tells us that God IS faithful and just. Think about that, even when we are in sin, God remains faithful and just. He is always willing to forgive His children and He is eager to forgive His children. I love this, the Bible doesn't even say that we have to ask for our Father's forgiveness. "What? You mean I don't have to ask for His forgiveness?" Nope, you sure don't. If you are His child, He wants to forgive you. You don't have to ask for it. I'm reminded of the parable of the prodigal son that "When he was still a long way off, his father felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) When we ask for forgiveness, we are still feeling shame over our sin. But when we confess in agreement with our loving Father, the shame is removed and is replaced with a feeling of joy and peace.
How many times have you felt that you had to stay away from a certain sin for a couple of days before you actually felt cleansed from that sin? I know I have done it countless times, but in reality when we do that we are trying to earn God's favor and we are not relying upon God's grace. When we feel that way, we are saying to God, "I know You say that You have forgiven me, but I need to stay clean myself for a couple of days to actually feel like I'm forgiven." This way of thought produces self-righteousness and self-conceit, and it in itself is sin.
Confession of our sin to God results in forgiveness and a clean slate. The part that I feel the need to zero in on is the fact that once we confess we are cleansed! There is nothing else needed! The moment that we confess our sins to our Father, He casts them away forever to remember them no more. They are simply forgotten. So why do we feel the need to remain guilty and shameful over our sin? Brothers and sisters our feelings will drive us away from God if they are mere feelings not based upon truths found in Scripture. But if our feelings are based upon truths found in Scripture they will draw us closer to our loving Father and will produce in us a desire to remain faithful to Him.
This is really encouraging to me, it is encouraging to know that I fight FROM a clean slate. I don't fight to EARN a clean slate with God. This truth found here in 1 John removes pressure in my walk with Christ. He knows when I am going to mess up and when I do, He is there waiting to forgive me, He wants to forgive me, and He loves to forgive me! Satan wants us as Christians to feel guilty or unclean because of our sin, but God just wants us to confess and allow Him to remove the feelings of guilt and uncleanness, setting us free to live a life of faithful devotion to Him.
So KNOW this:
IF we confess our sins: (1) We are forgiven. (2) We are cleansed.
He is faithful and just: (1) He is willing to forgive and cleanse. (2) He wants to forgive and cleanse. (3) He loves to forgive and cleanse.
Our relationship with God is not based upon our feelings but is based upon truths found in His Word. When we allow the truths found in God's Word to seep into our hearts, then His Holy Spirit will produce feelings in our lives that compliment truths found in Scripture resulting in a deeper and more fulfilling walk with our loving Father.
So this thanksgiving, I am thankful for God's forgiveness and for His Word. Let's be thankful this holiday season and let's rejoice in the wonder of forgiveness that is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Thanks for reading, and God bless!
