2009

March 26

 

“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)

 

Here is the “roadmap to restoration.”  When we confess our sins, we freely admit to them and take responsibility for them.  In the Garden of Eden responsibility was avoided by blaming someone else.  Adam said, “The woman you gave me…”  Eve argued “the devil made me…” This, gently put, is not helpful.  Sin is the result of our willful choices.  Notice this confession of sin is mandatory before the next step occurs.  As Adam Clarke said, “in order to get a clean heart, a (person) must know and feel its depravity, acknowledge and deplore it before God, in order to be fully sanctified.”

 

God then forgives and purifies.  Here is a “double cure.”  Forgiveness deals with the guilt; purifying (cleansing) deals with the pollution caused by sin in our lives.  Think of it as an oil spill.  The tanker is our sin nature that leaks pollution all over our lives.  Being free from the guilt of sin would be without purpose and temporary at best without a clean up.  Jesus once rescued a woman scheduled for execution.  After her accusers left, he stated that He did not accuse her but did not leave her “off the hook.”  His parting words to the woman were sobering, “go and sin no more.”   [Written by: Pastor Dan]

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