Yesterday we learned that God is willing and able to forgive and to cleanse a person from all unrighteousness. He so desires fellowship with people that He will remove the very barrier that keeps them from having a relationship with Him – sin. Before we leave this wonderful verse, there is one more emphasis that John the Apostle makes for us here. He wrote:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Did you note the word “all” at the end of this verse? All, in the Greek, means “All”. Every sin, every wrong, every missed opportunity, every trespass, transgression, mistake or failure, God forgives and cleans from a person's life when they confess them before Him. Remember, confessing sins is more than just mouthing them. There is a vast difference between worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow occurs when a person gets caught at his or her bad deed and is sorry about it. Godly sorrow recognizes that the infraction is against God Himself, and deep repentance happens within.
John said God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from “all” unrighteousness. Gossip, backbiting, lying, cheating, stealing, adultery, child abuse, battery, drug addictions, sexual sins, robbery, murder, etc. can and will be forgiven and cleansed by the one who sincerely comes to God with repentance in his or her heart.
I will admit that this is difficult to understand, but it is God's word, and He so desires fellowship with people, His creation, that He will forgive and cleanse them from “All” unrighteousness to do so. This is the power of the blood of Jesus that was spilled on the cross when He died for the sins of the whole world. Every sin, let me write it again, every sin, - one more time, every sin that anyone has ever committed against you or me Jesus paid for on the cross. And every sin that you or I have committed Jesus paid for on that cross too.
This is what makes God's grace, His “unmerited favor”, so amazing. This wonderful God stands ready and waiting to forgive and to cleanse anyone who has done anything wrong if they will only confess their sins to Him. However, if they should choose not to confess them...oh well, that is a lesson for tomorrow.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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