July 2019 Archives
Be Cleansed
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ~1 John 1:9
If you grew up in church, no doubt you have heard this verse ever since you were a child. Maybe from a Sunday school teacher who wanted you to confess your sins and know that God would always be there, ready to forgive every sin that you commit. I’m guessing, though, that some of you may not have thought about what it really means to be cleansed from unrighteousness.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ~1 Corinthians 6:9-11
When Christ cleanses, it is once for all time. Sin will not define a true child of God. Yes, it’s true that, if we sin we have an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1) but it’s also true that Christ has provided a way of escape so that we can flee temptation instead of giving into it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
People rely so much on God’s forgiveness that they are not too inclined to refrain from sinning. Sure, God is able to keep you from falling (Jude 1:24) but if you are determined to commit a sinful act, more than likely He will let you, and you will have no one to blame but yourself. My admonition to each one of us is to “walk in the Spirit, and you (and I) will not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
