Tag: confess sin
God forgets sin when . .
Scripture reading for May 21: Job 11-14
“Know this, God has even forgotten some of your sin.” Job 11:6b “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
Job’s friend Zophar was frank in his accusation that Job needed to repent. He was certain that Job had sinned and that God was being merciful in his harsh trial. He stated that God had probably forgotten some of Job’s sins or it might be worse! (Job 11:6) If Job would put away his sin, God would be merciful to him. (Job 11:14-15) Zophar could not get away from the common understanding of God’s justice: trouble and suffering were a result of sin in a person’s life.
Job, however, knew of no sin and did not want to fake a repentance or manufacture some sin just to try and manipulate God or appease these friends. He knew that God alone could cover these sins. He wrestled with how he could meet with God or if the grave would hold him at death. Finally, Job made a statement of faith concerning his own life and sins. It was in the form of a prayer discourse with God. (Job 14:13-17) Job asked God to hide him in the grave until His anger has passed and then “to set a time and remember me”. He asked God “If a man dies, will he live again?” He expected to hear a call from God and to respond from the grave because God longed to have fellowship with the “creature He has made”. Job expected all his sins to be sealed in a bag, covered over and not remembered! God revealed these truths to Job by revelation to sustain him in his trial.
As believers in Jesus, we have a mediator Who is like us, but without sin! Jesus Christ came and gave His life for our lives, promising to come again and remember us! He forgives our sins and remembers them no more! We will live with Him forever! We will hear His call and come out of the grave! This is available now to all who will repent and confess their sins to the Lord! (1st John 1:7-9)
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1st John 1:8-9
The Light of Truth
Scripture reading for November 22nd: Ezra 3-6, Psalm 92, 1st John 1
1st John 1: 5-10 “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”
John, in his old age, wrote this letter to the church to encourage them in the truth and to warn them against the lies of false teachers who were seeking to deceive the believers. God is light, and His Word is a light to our path and a lamp for our feet. Believers must walk in the Light of God’s Word and cling to Jesus Christ for cleansing and salvation. The false teachers were telling people that there was not really anything like ‘sin’ and that God would save everyone. John stated that those who say they have no sin, deceive themselves and ignore the Truth of God’s Word. Confession of sin and repentance alone brings cleansing and it is a continual process to walk it out. The blood of Christ, our ‘Passover Lamb’ is sufficient!
Ezra 6:20-22 “. . .So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by everyone who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful. . .”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Light of Life in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Thank You for the apostles, like John, who knew You and spoke plainly to the Church concerning basic truths of sin, repentance, cleansing by Christ’s blood, and the deceptions of false teachers. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me today to walk in the Light of God’s Word and speak truth that brings repentance and faith.
Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; To declare Your steadfast love in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”