Letters from the Beloved – Everyone is a Sinner
1 John 1:8-10 [NKJV] 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
This passage in 1 John reminds me of the Oprah Winfrey show. But, instead of saying “You get a car! And you get a car! And you get a car!”, John tells us “You are a sinner! And you are a sinner! And you are a sinner! Everyone is a sinner!”
In fact, he tells me that if I say I have not sinned, then I am a liar. And we all know that lying, even if it is bearing false witness about not being a sinner, is a sin. So, I’m guilty anyway.
Psalm 103:12 [NKJV] 12 As far as the east is from the west, [So] far has He removed our transgressions from us.
But don’t miss out on the important point that comes after acknowledging that we all sin. That important point is that, if we confess our sin instead of covering it up or denying it, God WILL forgive us and cleanse us from that sin. Acknowledging our sins, being willing to admit them, is the prerequisite to that promised forgiveness. This realization, that forgiveness and cleansing is a given, should make us more willing to confess our sins to God. Also, we should remember that God already knows them. So, we might as well fess up.
Psalm 103:2-3 tells us, [NKJV] 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Forgiveness is one of the great benefits of trusting in and obeying our God. He doesn’t just forgive, He removes the sin from us.
He is merciful toward we sinners. Psalm 103:11 [NKJV] 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, [So] great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
And He doesn’t just remove sin a little bit. He takes it far away. Psalm 103:12 [NKJV] 12 As far as the east is from the west, [So] far has He removed our transgressions from us. That’s as far away as you can get!
Why does He do this? Psalm 103:13 [ESV] As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. He does it because He has compassion on us or, as the King James version says, He pities us.
We cannot fool ourselves, sweet sisters, we are sinners, and we need to confess our sins to God our Father. We don’t need to be afraid to do that because:
1. He already knows about our sins.
2. He will faithfully forgive those sins if we confess them.
So, sweet sisters, take some time today to confess your sins to God. Forgiveness is promised. Our God is faithful to forgive.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or at Nancy@DyanmicChristianMinistries.org