1 John 1 - Empty the Trash

1 John 1 NIV
Every Sunday, we are reminded during confession that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Then following confession, we hear that our sins are forgiven. We are cleansed of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christians are well aware that we are "simul justus et peccator," both saint and sinner. We do not always do what we know we ought to be doing. But, we also know as we confess our sins that we are forgiven.

It is truly frustrating for me to hear someone's confession and the confession ends up sounding more like they are confessing for someone else. There are some who simply cannot 'fess up. They are always right and everyone else is wrong. They will not confess their own sins. Rather, they end up confessing the sins of others. I'm not sure how they think this is working for them. There are times when I long to be back working within the correctional system again. There they have already been convicted of their sins and many are eager to be absolved of their sins. But, within the community of those baptized into the church, I often see attempts to cover sins committed by blaming someone else or flat out lying about what one did or didn't do. If we truly want to be cleansed of our sins, we first have to admit that we are sinners.

My granddaughter helped me clean the house yesterday. Trash cans were washed. But, before one can be washed; you first have to take out the trash.

"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." (vss 8-10)

Help us, Lord, to recognize our sin that we might repent; turn to You.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 5:12-21 Saint and Sinner

Romans 5:12-21 NIV
Through Adam, sin came into the world. His trespass resulted in condemnation for all people. There is no way around it. We are sinful human beings. We are sinners. Yet, through Jesus Christ, we have received God's grace. Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ we have received forgiveness. We have received life.

As confusing as that may seem to some, we are both sinners and saints. It is obvious to all (or at least should be if our eyes are open) that we sin daily. Who can question our propensity to sin; to turn our backs on God's will as Adam did? Yet, at the same time because of Jesus' righteous sacrifice for us, we have been justified. We are holy in the eyes of God.

Thanks be to God for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 5:27-32 The Sick Sinners And Jesus

Luke 5:27-32 NIV
I have heard more times than I care to count that someone will not go to church with a bunch of hypocrites. The reality is that those who say this really don't know what the church is. The church is a bunch of sinners who have been made saints by faith in the blood of Christ that was shed for all people. We are people who have been called to repentance and receive God's Word of grace. We repent and then we fall back, again. Over and over again, day after day, we ask for forgiveness. We ask for healing and wholeness in God's sight. Christians are not so different than non-Christians; except that we know that we are not healthy and that we need Jesus to make us whole. So over and over again, we come to Him, with penitent hearts. Over and over, again, day after day, we give Him thanks for forgiving our sins.

The church on earth is indeed full of sinners. The righteous stay home; while, we sinners seek the LORD. We, who live this double life as both saint and sinner, will fall over and over again; but, no matter how often we fall, we trust in the mercy of God and know that Jesus will pick us back up again. By the shedding of His blood we have been forgiven our sins. We have been reconciled to God. We have been made whole. Saints and sinners; that is who we, the children of God, are.

God Peace - Pr. J