Feb. 23 | The Promise of Forgiveness
1 John 2:1-2, “1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense –Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Before becoming a Christian did you ever lie, steal, covet, lust, have ungodly anger, take God’s name in vain or put worldly things before church? If you are honest (and are not telling another lie) I am sure, like me, you answered, “Yes,” to probably all of the above. Then, by your own admission, you admit you were a “lying, stealing, covetous, lusting, angry, blaspheming idolater,” deserving of hell, right? You, of all people, should love the promise of God’s forgiveness because you know how much Jesus forgave you and from what He spared you!
If you are not saved or you’re living in habitual unrepentant sin, stop whatever you are doing and repent right now. Today may be your last chance! Augustine wrote, “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.”
John wrote, in Revelation 21:8 what will happen to all unforgiven sinners on Judgment Day, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Knowing that the fate of sinners is the lake of fire should cause every born again Christian to rejoice because Jesus is our atoning sacrifice.
The word “atonement” means, “to make reconciliation between estranged parties, bringing them into agreement.” Jesus’ atoning sacrifice satisfied the wrath of God, upon sinners, and made it possible for us to be in a right relationship with Him.
Jesus is not only the atoning sacrifice for those of us who have already repented, but His sacrifice is sufficient for all the sinners of the world. Sinners have only to confess Jesus as their Lord and repent of their sins to receive the promise of forgiveness, too.
All of us saints are also promised forgiveness for any sins we commit after being saved. John is clear that we shouldn’t sin, but if we do sin we can have confidence that the same sacrifice that forgave our sins as sinners, will forgive our sins as saints. There is no excuse for anyone to remain in his or her sins, because God promised that everyone could be forgiven by Jesus’ atoning sacrifice!
REFLECTION
Are you forgiven of all your sins?
ACTION
- Examine your heart to see if you have any hidden or unconfessed sins.
- If you have any unconfessed or hidden sin, confess them to God and ask Him to cleanse you with the blood of Jesus.
- Live holy, without repeating the same sins over and over again, by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:8-10).