Sins and Confession
"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
Sometimes when we (*I*) confess our sins, we don't "feel" forgiven, so we continue to fumble around in darkness and guilt - and we even hide from the light, which ultimately breaks our fellowship with the Father. "the purpose of light is not to punish and condemn the sinner, but to reveal sins so that they may be confessed and freely forgiven." We pray and we ask for forgiveness, but so many times we do not receive the assurance... we dont feel forgiven - we beg and beg God to wash us, but we still walk around feeling condemned. "Assurance of forgiveness and cleansing are the sure result of honest and specific confession of sins commited in thought, word, and deed. There may be repentence and brokenness, but this is the result of confession and cleansing, not the cause."
As I focus on our position in Christ - who we are in Him... I should focus on the fact that He died ONCE AND FOR ALL ... for our sins, for my sins! As I think about this and read this book by Miles Stanford (all quotes from him), I can't help but think... if I am a child of the King, and I am... why do I continue to mess up!? Why do I fall?! Although I abide in Christ - my everyday life is carried on in a sinful world! "There are sins committed as we grow, because we take our eyes off of the Lord Jesus and foolishly rely on self." Wow! The Holy Spirit, therefore fights on our behalf to restore fellowship with the Father - that is conviction! When we realize we have failed and we have fallen short, it shouldn's cripple us... HIS CLEANSING FREES US! "Where we are most detected, we are most protected." Miles Stanford says "He allows us to struggle with sin and self until we learn the futility of it. Then it is that He shows us that the Lord Jesus has already done for us what we can never do. It is from 'O wretched man that I am' to 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord'"
As I experience failures in fighting against my sin, I should appreciate the fact that I am a child of the King - and count myself dead to sin, a new creation in Christ! This doesnt mean I give up on the fight or that I continue to sin so that grace may increase... I just realize that the fight has already been fought and won by one who is higher than I and rest in His grace! God's purpose for me is that I become conformed to the image of His son... and all that is required is that I confidently abide where I have been placed! I cannot overcome sin on my own - I have to live in the light of glory!!
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me..." (Ps. 139:23-24
Sometimes when we (*I*) confess our sins, we don't "feel" forgiven, so we continue to fumble around in darkness and guilt - and we even hide from the light, which ultimately breaks our fellowship with the Father. "the purpose of light is not to punish and condemn the sinner, but to reveal sins so that they may be confessed and freely forgiven." We pray and we ask for forgiveness, but so many times we do not receive the assurance... we dont feel forgiven - we beg and beg God to wash us, but we still walk around feeling condemned. "Assurance of forgiveness and cleansing are the sure result of honest and specific confession of sins commited in thought, word, and deed. There may be repentence and brokenness, but this is the result of confession and cleansing, not the cause."
As I focus on our position in Christ - who we are in Him... I should focus on the fact that He died ONCE AND FOR ALL ... for our sins, for my sins! As I think about this and read this book by Miles Stanford (all quotes from him), I can't help but think... if I am a child of the King, and I am... why do I continue to mess up!? Why do I fall?! Although I abide in Christ - my everyday life is carried on in a sinful world! "There are sins committed as we grow, because we take our eyes off of the Lord Jesus and foolishly rely on self." Wow! The Holy Spirit, therefore fights on our behalf to restore fellowship with the Father - that is conviction! When we realize we have failed and we have fallen short, it shouldn's cripple us... HIS CLEANSING FREES US! "Where we are most detected, we are most protected." Miles Stanford says "He allows us to struggle with sin and self until we learn the futility of it. Then it is that He shows us that the Lord Jesus has already done for us what we can never do. It is from 'O wretched man that I am' to 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord'"
As I experience failures in fighting against my sin, I should appreciate the fact that I am a child of the King - and count myself dead to sin, a new creation in Christ! This doesnt mean I give up on the fight or that I continue to sin so that grace may increase... I just realize that the fight has already been fought and won by one who is higher than I and rest in His grace! God's purpose for me is that I become conformed to the image of His son... and all that is required is that I confidently abide where I have been placed! I cannot overcome sin on my own - I have to live in the light of glory!!
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me..." (Ps. 139:23-24
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