It's How You Deal With It

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)

Sins happens. I wish it didn't. I wish I didn't. But, it does. The truth is that God knows this better than we do. That he sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins proves that to be true. So, God is not surprised when we do sin. 

I have noticed two inner voices when I sin. One condemns. The other convicts. Condemnation is not from God because it leaves you no way out except sinless perfection, which isn't going to happen. Conviction tells you it was wrong and you need to confess that it was sin and ask God to forgive you. 

The truth is that what God wants us to do is walk with him by faith. He doesn't want us to deal with our sin. That is sin management. We can't manage our sin. The only way to deal with sin is to kill it. That is why Christ died on the cross. 

Father, help us to walk with you by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for your forgiveness. Praise be to you in us today!

Face It, You Sin

   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. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

   My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 1:8-2:2 (NIV)

Facing up to our own sinfulness can be very humbling. The question is not if we are going to sin or even when will we sin. The issue is what do we do when we sin. We confess. Jesus in his perfect faithfulness forgives us and purifies us. Just like a baby in diapers can't clean him/herself, we can't purify our own sin. we confess, Christ cleans. That is God's grace. 

The truth is that Jesus did not die just for our sins, he was the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. I have this friend at work. He needs to know God's grace. I can see it. I know he loves his wife and daughter, but he still needs Jesus. Jesus died for him too and I have been able to tell him, in normal conversations of God's love and forgiveness. 

That is the two sided beauty of the gospel. We are forgiven and we get to share that forgiveness with others. 

Father, forgive our sins. Share you love through us. Praise be to you in us today!