Knowing God's Forgiveness

Most of us have experienced a time in life when we have broken a rule. It could have been a family rule, a school rule, or a govern' rule. God also has rules that we have broken. We desire to be good, attempt to be good, but there seems to be an inability on our part to obey all the rules. To not obey the rules or law of God completely is to sin. The Bible tells us,

"No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God's laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying them; His laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners."

This can be a frustrating experience if we are attemptin to be found right in God's sight by doing all the right things. We also read in scripture, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confess and forsakes them will have mercy."

Saying yes to God leads us to receive His forgiveness for our sin. The Bible says that, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." We find in this verse from Paul's letter to the Romans some amazing things about God and forgiveness. Firstly, that we are sinners and that Christ died for our sin, and lastly that, Jesus was willing to die for our sin long before we were willing to accept Him.

For many of us there is a hesitancy to approach God because we are aware of just how messed up our lives are. We think, let me get past this or that, and then I will turn to God. The awareness of sin in our life is actually a good thing. It is not unlike pain. Without pain we would not draw away from the fire. Without guilt we would not understand our need for Jesus. A big part of saying yes to God is saying yes to the work of Jesus Christ upon the cross.

Throughout history man has attempted to approach God in many ways. Men have built towers that reach towards the heavens. Men have created elaborate religious rites and codes of morality. Some have thought if they just do enough good, God will accept them into His heaven. The truth is, the whole of the human race is born into sin. We are all in need of God's forgiveness. We read in the Bible the words, "If we confess our sins to him (God), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." Human nature is to try and hide our sin or justify our behavior. When God reaches out to us in love - He simply says, "I will take your sin and in its place give you everything you need to be clean, forgiven, and whole." Our sin has been placed upon Jesus.

The Bible tells us that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. It is through Jesus' blood, and only through His blood, that the stain of our sin can be washed away. In Jesus every sin has been fully paid for. In her book, Life with God, Helen Johns writes;

"It doesn't matter what you've done or failed to do before. You now are forgiven. Your sins are erased when you accept Christ; they don't have to haunt you anymore. You can be rid of the guilt and of the sick, angry feelings. You are saved by faith and are free to begin again. New Life! It means a brand new start."

As we pray to God and confess our sins, we understand and accept that it was our sin that put Christ upon the cross, and it is our sorrow for our sin that leads to repentance. The Holy Spirit shines light into the dark areas of our life and reveals our sin. As we see ourselves as we really are; naked, filthy and guilty, our heart cries out - "God, forgive me!" Knowing and experiencing God's forgiveness for our sin, as Helen Johns writes, brings "new life." As we put our trust in God's power to forgive and cleanse us through the blood of Jesus, a spiritual birth takes place.

Heavenly Father,

I come to you now knowing that it was my sin that put your son Jesus upon the cross. Forgive me God. I am guilty of pride, rebellion, and wanting to do things my own way. Forgive me for                                  .

I confess these sins to You today. Your word, the Bible, says if I confess my sins You will be faithful to forgive me and to wash away all my sin. As You have placed my sin upon Jesus, I now receive forgiveness for all my sin. In Christ I am forgiven. In Christ I am clean. Thank you Lord.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.