1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
▪︎ A vague annoying feeling that you are an unpleasant person is not the same as the conviction of sin.
▪︎ Feeling depraved is not the same as repentance.
• You can sometimes feel unsuitable.
• You can sometimes start a prayer and suddenly feel unworthy to speak to the creator of the universe.
These are vague feelings of unworthiness, and when you mention these feelings of unworthiness in your prayer, it may well be, that nothing changes. But when you start talking specifically about your sins with Him, that is a different matter.
Unpleasant feelings can be useful if they lead to conviction of sin. But only a vague feeling that you are bad, is not really beneficial. The vague sense of unworthiness must take shape. The reason for that unworthiness must be mentioned.
For example, if it is clear to you that the feelings of unworthiness come from sins of disobedience, then you can point out, distance yourself from them, ask forgiveness for them, and decide not to repeat it again.
Disobedience is often not following God’s commandments.
To name a few:
● God wants us to love Him, not occasionally, not just a little, but with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Not 95%, but 100%.
Matthew 22:37
And He said to him, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
● God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That means that you desire that everything goes well with your neighbor, as with yourself.
Matthew 22:39
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
And further:
● We have been advised that we do all things without grumbling and complaining. No complaining inside or out.
Philippians 2:14
Do all things without grumbling or disputing
● We have been advised to cast all our worries on Him so we no longer have to suffer.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
● We are advised to say only things that give grace to others
Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
● We have been advised to use the available time properly.
Ephesians 5:16
Make the most of your time, because the days are evil.
I could easily make this list much longer, but even with these few points I think it is clear that we desperately need God’s grace if we are to live in His presence.
By mentioning these points, we make it specific, we can face them, we can ask forgiveness for them, and we can ask Him for strength not to make the same mistakes again, or not to commit the same sins again.
Colossians 3:4-7
⁴When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. ⁵Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. ⁶For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
Facing the sins that we did, and that separated us from God, makes us break, and makes us increasingly loathe sin, and want to kill the evil in us.
Romans 8:13
If you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
And while we are in this inner struggle we hear the promise of 1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
There will be inner peace again!
Yes I expect His kingdom of peace soon.
His kingdom is good and powerful,
and it will be victorious over all evil.
Internet: harryschoemaker.nl
Or directly to: devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
P.S.: Since my daily Bible messages went to over 10 million people, Facebook doesn’t allow me anymore to share these messages in groups (except my own). So if you don’t want miss out on them, you better join my group “The Worldwide Ekklesia” or follow me on Twitter: @schoemakerharry
1 thought on “Forgiveness of sins”