Continuing Forgiveness 1 John 1:8-2:2

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Nobody’s sinless! “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” Blue Mink: Never been a sinner, never sinned I've got a friend in Jesus So you know that when I die It's gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky

Don’t forget to confess. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We want forgiveness. A Spanish father and his son became estranged. After years of fruitless searching the father put a message in a Madrid newspaper. “Dear Paco… Frederick the Great was touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man… Asking forgiveness does not make you less…

Don’t deny your sins. “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” “God is truth.” (John14:6) “God cannot lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) Lying is against his nature. So who is the liar when we claim we have not sinned? Our situation makes me think of the interrogation of a spy when the interrogator tells lies to get the advantage and the spy tells well-rehearsed lies that he almost believes himself.

The ideal is not to sin “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.” If forgiveness is always available from a merciful God, why not give in? Rom. 6:1-2 When you sin you are still acting against the will of God and against your new nature as a child of God. Not good! Now that you are in God, help is available from your Father. “You…are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit…” Romans 8:9

But if we do sin… So we try our very hardest not to sin, asking God to help us. “But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Can you believe the greatness of God’s forgiveness? There is continuing forgiveness! Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:27-28 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Eph. 1:7-8