Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Forgiveness of Sins
I John 1. 5-9
‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
As Christians we have many questions in our spiritual journey. One of the question we ask ourselves is - is God going to forgive all our sins. Every Sunday when we confess our sins to take Holy Qurbana and confess our sins we wonder if the sins we have committed have truly been forgiven. The bible tells us yes with one exception. Matthew 12: 31-32 and Mark 3:29 clearly states that any blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven either in this age or in the ages to come. But if you read 1 John 1:9 it states that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of the relationship with God. When God gave Moses the 10 Commandments to be followed, He made it very clear what we need to do as Christians. Those 10 Commandments are the cornerstone for all the believers and if any one of the Commandments in any degree is not followed we have in reality committed sin. And when we sin we offend God because it is His law that we have broken. The sin affects the moral purity of His nature. The offense against God leads to a judgment. When we break any law there are penalties and consequences. Therefore breaking God’s law brings judgment, which is separation from God. Isaiah 59:2 states that “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God...” Damnation is the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner. If God did not judge the sinners, then He is not upholding His holiness and He would be allowing sinners to go unpunished.
We must do everything possible to not break our relationship with God. But as humans we need the grace of god to be away from sin, no matter what position we are holding within the church - So We have to lead a holy life. But we should not forget the fact that we as humans are prone to sin and only by his grace and mercy we should be a way from sin. Jesus died for our sins and he took the judgment upon himself. If we trust in what Jesus did on the cross He will have our sins removed or forgiven. But we must be careful regarding the sins against Holy spirit. If you recall Moses then we know that Moses was a holy man but did not listen to God. God punished Moses at the end and did not allow him to enter the Promised Land even after he did great work in the name of God. So our God is a merciful, loving, caring and most of all a just God. Let us depend on His grace for the forgiveness and to be away from sin.
‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
As Christians we have many questions in our spiritual journey. One of the question we ask ourselves is - is God going to forgive all our sins. Every Sunday when we confess our sins to take Holy Qurbana and confess our sins we wonder if the sins we have committed have truly been forgiven. The bible tells us yes with one exception. Matthew 12: 31-32 and Mark 3:29 clearly states that any blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven either in this age or in the ages to come. But if you read 1 John 1:9 it states that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of the relationship with God. When God gave Moses the 10 Commandments to be followed, He made it very clear what we need to do as Christians. Those 10 Commandments are the cornerstone for all the believers and if any one of the Commandments in any degree is not followed we have in reality committed sin. And when we sin we offend God because it is His law that we have broken. The sin affects the moral purity of His nature. The offense against God leads to a judgment. When we break any law there are penalties and consequences. Therefore breaking God’s law brings judgment, which is separation from God. Isaiah 59:2 states that “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God...” Damnation is the righteous judgment of God upon the sinner. If God did not judge the sinners, then He is not upholding His holiness and He would be allowing sinners to go unpunished.
We must do everything possible to not break our relationship with God. But as humans we need the grace of god to be away from sin, no matter what position we are holding within the church - So We have to lead a holy life. But we should not forget the fact that we as humans are prone to sin and only by his grace and mercy we should be a way from sin. Jesus died for our sins and he took the judgment upon himself. If we trust in what Jesus did on the cross He will have our sins removed or forgiven. But we must be careful regarding the sins against Holy spirit. If you recall Moses then we know that Moses was a holy man but did not listen to God. God punished Moses at the end and did not allow him to enter the Promised Land even after he did great work in the name of God. So our God is a merciful, loving, caring and most of all a just God. Let us depend on His grace for the forgiveness and to be away from sin.
Prayer: Heavenly Father have mercy on us sinners when you judge us. Amen.