CONFESS

Sin is something we are all born with as the result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience with eating from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.  It is a rebellion and rejection of God and all that is good.  It is an offense against a holy and righteous God.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.  –Romans 5:12  (NLT) 

 

Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become “right” with God.  This sin no longer has power over our lives as we belong to a holy, righteous God.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  –2 Corinthians 5:21  (NIV)

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.  –Romans 6:6  (NLT)

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As humans, we still commit sins.  Sins are contrary to the will of God and a turning away from Him.  It can be a failure to do what is right or failing to do something we should have done.

 

 

What did Jesus say the two greatest commandments are?

Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  –Matthew 22:37-39  (NIV)

The sins in our life, I believe can be measured against these two commandments Jesus gave 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 1:9  (ESV)

If we take time to think about, confess, and truly repent of our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us.  This passage was powerful for me one day as I was confessing my sins and then went for a walk outside.  There was a gentle rain, and I was reminded of God cleansing me in the sea of His forgiveness.  A few minutes later the sun came out reminding me of Jesus, the Son, redeeming me back to wholeness because of the power of the Resurrection.

 

Photo courtesy of Church Iglesia under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0)

 

For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.  —1 Timothy 2:5-6  (NLT)

Thanks be to God for sending His only Son, Jesus, to this earth to reconcile us back to God despite our sinfulness.  This freedom is available for anyone who believes in Jesus.

 

What is so powerful is to consider how God then remembers our sins no more!  We truly are set free.  In our humanness, I think we are the ones that find it hard to forget our sins.  If God remembers them no more, we should let them go as well!

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.  —Hebrews 8:12  (ESV)

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.  —Psalm 103:12  (NLT)

 

 

May these thoughts this week inspire you to…

• share with God the ways your actions have failed to love Him and others.
• seek God’s forgiveness by confessing your sins.
• praise Jesus for the freedom you have from your sins.
• be joyful knowing God remembers your sins no more.

Keep striving to move forward, living out the two greatest commandments daily.

 

I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.  –Isaiah 44:22  (NLT)