Thursday, April 10, 2014

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD FORGIVING OUR SINS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD FORGIVING OUR SINS"

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. The subject matter in this verse, is about sin, confession of our sins, the faithfulness of God to forgive us, and of His cleansing us all unrighteousness.

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. Let's take a closer look at what is said here.

(1) If we confess our sins. To confess, means to agree with God, it means to say the same thing that God does.
Thus when we confess to God, we are saying, we agree with what You have said about something that we have actually done, or have thought about. That's what it means to confess, to agree with God.

(2) Sins, means, when we break God's laws, or disobey His Word. The word sin, literally means, to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken. To miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong. To wander from God's law, and violate God's law. To sin, is to do that which is wrong, it's an offense, a violation of the Divine law in thought or in act.

(3) He is faithful and just.  John is now talking about our God, and describing two  of His attributes, or characteristic's, and that is, He is faithful, and that He is just.  1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful. This means, that God is trustworthy, dependable, can be counted on, or can be relied on, God will do what He says He will do. God is Faithful. How wonderful to know this. The fact that God is just, means, righteous. or virtuous, faultless. In fact, only god is truly Just.

(4) To forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This is telling us what God is faithful to do when we confess our sins to Him. When you agree with God about your sin, there are two things that He does, He forgives, and He cleanses. To forgive means, to send away, to let go, to let be, to leave. To give up, to remit, to keep no longer. To abandon. That's what He does with our sins. He lets them go. But, that's not all. He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Or to cleanse us from every wrong. It's similar to forgiveness. It's just telling us that He washes us from our sins as it were. Unrighteousness, is that which is wrong. And, through the Blood of Christ, we are forgiven, and cleansed of our sins.

A prayer:

Father, we are saved, but we still sin. And, when we do. We wish we did not sin, and sincerely ask that You help us not to sin. Forgive us when we do, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Father, we have no one to blame when we sin, except ourselves. We make the choice. But, we also can make the choice to come clean with You, and You Lord are faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to wash us clean of them.
Lord, we want to ask that this day, if there is any sin, that we have not confessed, that we would do so this very moment, and receive Your forgiveness, and Your cleansing. Thank You Father, in Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT 3 BLESSINGS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU IN CHRIST"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT 3 BLESSINGS GOD HAS GIVEN YOU IN CHRIST"

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. These three blessings belong to each and every person who is "in Christ" All of who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, and are saved, have these and of course many other blessings. But, we are going to look at just these three today.

(1) He has made us accepted in the beloved. Essentially, this means, that we are honored with blessings by Him. Also, it has the idea of being highly favored, and to make accepted. We once were not in this position, but just as Jesus ascended to the Father and was welcomed into heaven, we who are in Christ, are as accepted by God as Jesus is. And, you have to ask yourself, how accepted is Jesus by the Father?. Well, that's exactly how He accepts us. Remember, we are joint heirs with Christ.

(2) In Him we have redemption through His blood. Now, this is another blessing. We have redemption, and we have this through His blood, that is His life being given for our sins payment on the cross. Redemption means that we belong to Him, through His having purchased us. Imagine, God bought you! Wow. Why would He buy such as us? Because He loves us, and wants to know us, and wants us to not perish, but have eternal life with Him.

(3) In Him.....The forgiveness of sins. This is something that only God can give. He is the Forgiver of sins. We cannot do this for ourselves. It's impossible. The wages of sin is death. We would have to die, and be separated from Him forever to pay for our sins. But, He paid for them instead. And, now our sins are forgiven. They are gone away from us, never to be remembered anymore, and never to be held against us. The only remembrance of them, will be on our part, and that memory is, that our Great God has forgiven us for them. Thank You Lord.

A prayer:

Father, the blessings we have looked at today, are just a small sample of the many that we have from You. You are the Great Accepter, Redeemer, and Forgiver, and You are the great Blesser if you will, of all who will put their trust in You. Thank You for leading us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We love You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.