1 John 1: 9 – 10
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Your forgiveness of our sins is the key to salvation. By faith alone, we know and trust You suffered on the cross to pay our debt of sin. As John wrote (inspired by the Holy Spirit), You are faithful to us and forgive our sins when we confess them to You.
Sin occurs when we are loveless toward You and others and fail to be perfect, as You told us in Your word: “Be perfect as Your Father in heaven is perfect.” When our pride gets involved, and we are selfish and want things to go our way, we do whatever makes us feel good, at Your expense or someone else’s.
Because of the sin passed down to us from our first parents, we are all infected. John wrote, “If someone thinks they have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us.” Lord, let us realize that sin is not only in what we say or do; it begins with our thoughts, which are affected by our inherited sin.
Please forgive us all our sins and remove our guilt and shame for what we have thought. Give us the courage to ask for forgiveness for all the ways we have hurt others with our words and actions. Then we ask for the peace that comes only from You, the peace knowing we are restored to You and the Father by faith begun in us by the Holy Spirit. Thank you for being faithful to and forgiving us even when we do not deserve your forgiveness. May we share this peace with those who do not know you; please be faithful to them and give them the peace of your forgiveness. Amen
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
God’s word tells all about His love for us. Jesus came to suffer the cross so that we would be forgiven for our every sin. Faith receives His gift of love, and it is in forgiveness that you are united and restored to God; this is salvation.