SCRIPTURE: 1John (NIV) 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
OBSERVATION: When we receive Jesus into our hearts and He forgives ALL our sins, it is natural that we would want to please Him. We want to live a life that honors Him. We do not want to sin. But everyone who has been born-again for a week, or a month, knows that sin has a strong hold in our lives. Habits may be hard to break. Friends have a strong influence to do what we know is wrong.
How grateful we should be that we have a wonderful Friend who has taken up residence in us—the Holy Spirit! When we do things that are contrary to God’s desire, we lose our inner peace and have a guilty sense. We all need to learn how the Holy Spirit speaks to us. And we need to quickly respond.
APPLICATION: How thankful we should be that the same sacrifice that paid for our past sins, also pays for any sins we commit after becoming a believer. Once we are born into the family of God, Jesus represents us before His Father in heaven. As we confess our sins, His blood continues to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9) and Jesus continues to be our defense counsel before the throne of heaven.
PRAYER: Lord, how thankful I am that you forgave my sins when I first accepted you as my Lord and Savior. What a change you made in my life! But I am also thankful that you have continued to hear my confessions and continued to forgive me. I am thankful for your Holy Spirit who lives in my heart and brings conviction when I sin. Thank you for the confidence you give that I am forgiven. Amen
Pastor Leon
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