Day 336 (Through the Bible in a year readings for today: Ezekiel 47,48; 1 John 1 )
CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
“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.” (1 John 1:8-9 ESV)
In today’s verses, John is calling us to be honest with ourselves and with God. Don’t deny your sins; instead, confess them to God. This is difficult, yet necessary. It is a natural tendency for us proud human beings to deny that we have done anything wrong. Yet God’s Law rings out clearly, “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:3 ESV)
There are great emotional benefits to confessing our wrongs, our misdeeds, our sins. A child who has done something wrong is filled with a gnawing guilt until he or she tells mom or dad. Their relationship is restored. Yes, confession is good for that child.
Look at the second sentence in today’s Biblical selection. Confession is good for the soul of the child of God because God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
While it is important to be reconciled to one’s parents, it is far more crucial to be reconciled to the One who controls eternity. Because God the Father accepted His Son’s sacrificial death on the cross as payment for our sins, He now mercifully forgives us and washes all of our sins away. Confession truly is good for the soul of the believer!
Rejoice every time you hear your pastor proclaim Christ’s words over you and to you: Upon this your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, thank You for promising to forgive me when I repent. Help me to resist the foolish attempt to cover up and deny my sins, so that I may know the joy of Your forgiveness and reconciliation. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
Daily Bible Reading Chart covering the entire Bible in one year.
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