Dealing with Our Sins

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that 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,” 1 John 1:7-9.

These three verses begin with “if,” which means a condition must be met before the sinner can participate in the blessing of forgiveness and mercy. “If” we walk in Jesus’ light, “if” we stop pulling the wool over our own eyes, pretending we are not sinners, “if” we confess our sins in sincere repentance, then, God will cleanse us, forgive our sins and restore our fellowship with Him.

In Psalm 51, King David begged God for forgiveness and restoration of His fellowship. He never lost his relationship as God’s son. However, he was miserable out of God’s fellowship, ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit until he humbled himself before God. God was still right where David left Him.

When we are out of fellowship with those who love us, the Holy Spirit convicts our conscience until we give up and ask forgiveness. John 16 teaches that one of the Holy Spirit’s jobs is to convict our conscience until we get sick and tired of rejecting God’s offer of mercy.

Jesus is waiting with open arms to say, “I love you this much.” Then, we can smile from the heart and mean it.

THOUGHT: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).