“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 a liar, and his word is not in us.” –1 John 1:8-10
Don’t deceive yourself! You and I are sinners. Sin is “hamartia” – missing the mark. It is falling short or not reaching the target of God’s perfect standard of righteousness. He is all that is good, right, and true. He has no trace of sin in Himself. He is Light and there is no darkness in Him. (1 John 1:5). Apart from Him, we have no light on our own. We are born into this world with a sin nature that holds us captive to the presence, power, and punishment of sin in our lives, from the day we are born. In light of this grim reality, Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1-3,
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” – Ephesians 2:1-3
This is the status of every human soul apart from God: Dead in our trespasses and sins; sons of disobedience; children of wrath. Not a very hopeful outlook, is it?
Before we can receive the grace of God, we must be willing to face the ugly reality of our sinful condition without Him. John writes, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. To deceive means to be led away from the Truth- further and further into error and sin.
We cannot lie our way back to God.
We cannot deny our sin by justifying our wrongdoing, blaming others, comparing it to someone else’s sin, or pretending it doesn’t exist. We must humbly and honestly accept the reality of our failure to reach God’s standard of perfection. We must admit our lostness apart from God’s mercy in the cross of Christ. If sin did not separate, there would be no need for His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. To deny sin, is to deny the need for salvation. To deny the need for salvation is to deny the gift of the Savior.
Truth is the reality of what is: God is holy and wholly perfect; people are utterly sinful.
Jesus declared of Himself, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.” – John 14:6. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father; all efforts of man are insufficient in reaching God.
To be saved from God’s just wrath toward sin, we must deal honestly with ourselves. God did!
We only need to look at the cross to understand how God hates sin. His righteous wrath toward sin was unleashed upon Christ, instead of upon us. The full weight of God’s punishment for every sin ever committed – past, present, and future, was poured out on His Son. Christ came, in love and obedience to the Father, to take our place and to deal once and forever with the sins of humanity. He was beaten until He could not be recognized. His flesh torn apart, like the temple curtain – opening the way for us to come to the Father (Hebrews 10:20). His sinless life became the sin offering to make atonement for us. He traded our sin for His righteousness.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” -Isaiah 53:5
Why would He do this? Why would He offer Himself to be crushed and to drink the cup of death on our behalf? Romans 5:6-10 says,
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
In looking upon the cross of Christ, we behold the overwhelming love of the Father for us! There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. (John 15:13). Christ laid down His life, not just for one, but for all of humanity! The sacrifice of His perfect life was sufficient to appease the just wrath of God for sin, and to clothe, with forgiveness and righteousness, every soul that believes on His Name.
Nothing brings more joy to God the Father, than, in love and forgiveness, to reconcile His enemies to Himself. Through this act of reconciliation, He demonstrates His infinite glory, power, worth, justice, and mercy!
As the Spirit of God raised Christ from the dead, conquering over death, hell, and the grave, so also, His Spirit is at work within all who turn to Him for salvation- confessing their sin and receiving His blood-bought forgiveness. Through His resurrecting power, He transforms enemies of God into friends. He re-creates as His Spirit breathes new life into repentant hearts. He plants His sanctifying Word within our souls – giving us the desire to live according to it.
So, for the Christ-follower, continual confession of sin is evidence of genuine salvation. As we walk in the Light of our Heavenly Father’s Presence, He reveals what sinful thoughts, patterns, attitudes, habits, remain. His kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). His love and discipline is not punitive; it is perfecting His own image within us, that our lives would bring Him much glory and honor!
So, what are you hiding? Where are you believing that you cannot be forgiven? What do you need to confess to God today?
Do not be afraid to agree with God about your sin; confessing it honestly to Him is the road to healing, restoration, and moving forward! Guilt is a gift from Him – intended to move our hearts toward Him to receive His love and forgiveness. Shame is the whisper of your soul’s enemy, Satan, who wants to keep you bound in brokenness. Shame whispers that you aren’t worthy of forgiveness; and it’s true. We are not. And that is the glory of the Gospel!
Pure, undeserved grace.
Beloved, come into the Light of God’s love for you.
“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
Let healing begin today!