Cleansing From All Sin

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)

            The verse before you is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible. Some people see it like a lifeboat and use it as license to sin.  They say they can do what they want to do because all they have to do is claim 1 John 1:9.  Lifeboats are not on ships so they can sink.  Lifeboats are on ships in case they sink.  This wonderful verse is not a license to sin.  It is the promise of a loving Heavenly Father to assure cleansing and restoration when we do sin.

This verse declares the certainty of God’s forgiveness.  It is an indisputable fact that God forgives sin.  This certainty of God’s forgiveness is based on the faithfulness of God and the righteousness of God.  God is faithful and God is righteous.

God is faithful.  Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He has promised.  There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses (1 Kings 8:56).

God’s faithfulness guarantees that He will never act inconsistent with Himself.  God is His own standard.  He is always true to Himself.

This verse also declares that God is righteous.  When Abraham was appealing to God on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah, he said to God, …Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?  (Genesis 18:25).

Jesus Christ died on the cross to meet God’s demands upon Himself.  Ponder the depths of this thought.  God is true to Himself.

A.W. Tozer said, “All of God’s reasons for doing what He does lie within Himself.  That is to say that He can never contradict Himself.”

This is the God who said, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Dr. Roger D. Willmore is the Senior Pastor of Deerfoot Baptist Church and a popular speaker at America’s Keswick. He will be here this summer.

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 27-28; Philemon

Quote of the day: Peace, when “ruling” the heart and “ruling” the mind, opens in both every avenue of joy. Sarah W. Stephen

Bible Memory: Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalm 119:35-36