Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
1 John 1
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
1:8 have no sin. we deceive ourselves. The devil (3:8) or the world (2:15) may contribute to human straying, but in the end each individual bears responsibility for his or her own sin. Some sin remains in every Christian’s life (“have,” present tense), even that of the elderly apostle John (“we”).
1:9 Christians must confess (their) sins, initially to receive salvation and then to maintain fellowship with God and with one another (v. 3). faithful and just to forgive. God is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression” (Num. 14:18). Yet John also makes it clear (1 John 3:6, 9) that persistent unrepented sin is not the mark of a Christian—God “will by no means clear the guilty” (Num. 14:18).
1:10 have not sinned. his word is not in us. A person may have heard and assented to the gospel message, but until it brings him to acknowledge his sin, it has not taken root.
1:9 Christians must confess (their) sins, initially to receive salvation and then to maintain fellowship with God and with one another (v. 3). faithful and just to forgive. God is “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression” (Num. 14:18). Yet John also makes it clear (1 John 3:6, 9) that persistent unrepented sin is not the mark of a Christian—God “will by no means clear the guilty” (Num. 14:18).
1:10 have not sinned. his word is not in us. A person may have heard and assented to the gospel message, but until it brings him to acknowledge his sin, it has not taken root.
Study Questions:
- After we get mad at our sin, we need to confess it to God, repent and run to the cross. The cross is what keeps the temporal consequences from becoming permanent, eternal ones. We should run to Jesus and confess our sin because he is faithful and just to forgive. At the cross, Jesus shamed our enemy by defeating him. Sin is forgiven as God's wrath and mercy meet at the cross. And it's all because of his love for us. The refrain of the cross, the line that gets repeated over and over, is that Jesus saves! His love is unfailing. Is there any sin that you need to confess? Like the prodigal son, do you need to run back to God? What is he speaking to you?
- As the commentary states, persistent, unrepented sin is NOT the mark of a Christian. 1 John 3:6 says, "Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is." It is important for followers of Jesus to listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit that is within them. When we ignore his voice and continue in our sinful ways we are walking down a dangerous road. Do you still sense the Spirit's conviction in your life? What is your response? Do you ignore it or repent?
Pray:
- That you would live a life of repentance.
- That you would stay sensitive to the Spirit's leading and conviction.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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