Repentance and Forgiveness
1 John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When I was in fourth grade, my ten-year-old self decided it was a good idea to attempt to cheat on a test. I remember strategically placing my schoolbook on my lap as I proceeded to write down the correct answers. I thought I was going to get caught. My hand was shaking as I was writing – knowing I was wrong, but I kept going. To my surprise, I didn’t get caught, and I walked out of school that Friday without giving it a second thought. However, at the next chapel service, our speaker talked about hidden sins and how we feel the guilt of our actions. I am sure you can piece together the events that took place after this moment. The feeling of guilt came over me like a flood. Right after that service, I shared with a friend what I had done, and she came with me to confess to the teacher.
Now this may be a small and somewhat silly example of confessing our sins, but it is important for us to understand what confession means for us. Our passage for today says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The harsh reality is that sin is present in every one of our lives. To confess and repent of our sins is not an easy task by any means. To repent means to turn away from our old ways and turn towards Christ – it is a shift in behavior. As scripture encourages, we should also confess our sins to one another (James 5:16)– this can provide both support and accountability as we are turning back towards Christ. When we confess and repent of our sins, we find true and complete cleansing that comes from Christ alone. We are forgiven not because we deserve it, but because Jesus took our punishment and paid the price for our sin – we are cleansed by His blood!
The Lord has forgiven us for the sins we have committed, so what does this mean for us as we forgive others?
Forgiving someone of their wrong towards us or our family can be one of the most challenging decisions we make in our lives. Forgiving someone is a journey, and in some cases, not extending forgiveness can seem like the easier thing to do. However, unforgiveness can produce bitterness, anxiousness, and cause you to feel “stuck” in the past. Yet through our forgiveness of others, God takes the weight that the circumstance caused us to carry and begins to heal us. (Please know that I am not suggesting reconciliation of hurtful, broken, or abusive relationships.)
At times, we fail to realize how much we have been forgiven of until we must make the decision to forgive others.
The gifts of repentance and forgiveness ultimately lead to a life of freedom and peace in Christ. As we continue in this journey of Prayer and Fasting, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions and prayer points as you walk throughout your day.
Reflection Questions/Prayer Points:
- Acknowledge Sin
o Are there sins that I need to confess and repent of?
o Ask for Forgiveness
o Is there a safe person in my life I can confess to who will keep me accountable?
- Is there anyone you need to extend forgiveness to?
o What steps can I take to forgive?
Written By: Christina Standford