Verse of the Day for September 30

The promise in verse 9 is guarded on both sides by a warning. If we say that we have no sin, verse 8 begins. If we say that we have not sinned, verse 10 begins. Saying is the problem on either side. Confessing is the remedy in the middle.

To confess is to agree with God about what happened. Not to explain it, not to shrink it, simply to say yes, that was wrong, and it was mine.

Then John describes God in an unexpected way. he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. We might expect merciful, or kind. John says just. Forgiveness is not God bending the rules. Because Christ has dealt with sin, forgiving the one who confesses is the right thing for God to do.

And there are two gifts, not one. To forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Forgiveness deals with the guilt. Cleansing deals with the stain left behind.

At the end of the day, lying in bed with the hours running back through your mind, you do not have to pretend it was clean. Name what went wrong, plainly. God is faithful, which means he will be there tomorrow night too. Then sleep. The confessing was your part; the forgiving is his.

Confession is simply agreeing with God about what happened.

God forgives because it is just, not only because he is kind.