“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” – 1 John 1:9 NIV
Because of the snowstorm on Ash Wednesday, we moved our service of ashes to the following Sunday. For some, this might have been the first time they ever came forward to hear the words “Repent and believe in the gospel” and receive ashes as a sign of that repentance. Sin and repentance are not a popular topic. And yet it is at the heart of the gospel.
All of us have sinned and broken our relationship with God and others. Jesus came to bring forgiveness and pay the debt of that sin. Because of what he did our relationship with God can be restored and our slate wiped clean. But do we believe this? Do we believe it for others? Do we believe it for ourselves?
Twice in my life I have been devastated to learn that a Christian friend I admired and looked up to had committed a grievous sin. I know we all sin and fall short of the glory of God many times, but these were sins I never thought them capable of. I felt personally hurt and let down by their actions. Both persons confessed their sins and accepted the consequences of their actions. However, those confessions had different results.
One person came through that experience humbled and with a greater sense of gratitude for Christ’s mercy. They did the work to make amends, change the things that made them vulnerable to temptation, and became an even greater witness for Jesus. The other struggled to believe the gospel message of repentance and forgiveness. They couldn’t forgive themselves and couldn’t believe that Jesus would forgive them either. Their relationship with God remained broken and they left the faith.
The scripture is very clear – if we confess, God is faithful and forgiving, washing our sin away. Do you believe this for others? Do you believe this for yourself?
In Christ’s mercy,
Pastor Mark