THANK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS
THANK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. —Psalm 32:1-5
“David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). The testimony of God about David in the New Testament is that David would do everything the Lord would command him to do. Yet, as we look at the life of David, he was far from a perfect, sinless man. God’s grace is so awesome. He is slow to anger, compassionate, kind, longsuffering, loving, merciful… and “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). He works through imperfect people to accomplish His desires for His glory. For that we should be eternally grateful.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be found just in your speech and blameless in your judgment. —Psalm 51:1-4
Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. —Psalm 51:9
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. —Psalm 51:17
There are so many examples in God’s Word of how He has worked through believers regardless of their imperfections. This gives us great hope that He can and does work through His followers today even though they have imperfections. “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. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. (I John 1:8-10). It is interesting that the writer, John, included himself in these statements— “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. If WE say WE have not sinned, WE make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in US.”
Seems there were those in John’s day who believed they did not sin anymore. John includes himself in these statements to show that even if he said he had no sin then he was deceiving himself and the truth was not in him. But he said if he confessed his sin that God is faithful and just to forgive him his sin and to cleanse him for all unrighteousness. If John said that he has not sinned then he would be calling God a liar and God’s Word was not in him.
This false teaching is still around. Don’t be deceived! Cults use God’s Word, but they mean something totally different! Beware! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRGNGVe9Ojc
Dear Father, I am so grateful to know what Your Word says so when deceivers come along I can know exactly who they are. Thank You for giving us Your Word. Thank You for Your mercy and grace and for our home in heaven where things will finally be perfect. Until then, please help me run the race you have mark out for me as I keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ZWEO36jok