1 John 1:5-9 And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
We were talking about forgiveness, and how it is the great gift of opportunity for fallen people, who long to be fully transformed into the New Creation they already are in Christ. 2Corinthians 5 makes it very clear that if you are in Christ then you are a New Creation, yet Eph. 4, and Col. 3, tell us to put on the New Self. As we grow in the Lord we are becoming in our experience what we already are.
Forgiveness plays such an important role in our transformation because, as we press on and in, there are times when we are confronted by the Holy Spirit about things in our lives that must go if we are to continue becoming more like Him. Sadly, many people stop at this point because they can’t face owning the truth about their sin, fearing rejection awaits them if they do. The grace of forgiveness allows us to be brutally honest about ourselves knowing that on the other side of true confession, forgiveness awaits us, drawing us into the love God where we hear His affirming voice telling us that we are to put it behind us, as He has, and that we are to go on and be all that He has called us to be. We discover over and over again that the opportunity is still there. Hope is alive. In light of the fact that all of us on the journey sin from time to time, Forgiveness is Hope’s best friend. You’ve got to come clean to get clean. Forgiveness is our great assure-er encouraging us to come clean; to not be afraid.
Have a great day risking it all for Jesus, knowing that if you fall and scrape yourself up, forgiveness will be there to pick you up, brush you off, wash your wounds, and send you on your way.
And Can It Be That I Should Gain? by: Charles Wesley/Thomas Cambell
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.