Most of us have a sense of right and wrong. The Apostle Paul would say it’s written on our hearts automatically. If we believe in right and wrong, we probably admit we have done both. The good news is that for the wrong Jesus was sacrificed so that we can be forgiven.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 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. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1John 1:8-2:2
John has been talking about we should walk in the light as Jesus is in the light. Today we read that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves. I met someone once who was convinced she had never sinned. She didn’t believe in sin. That was a discussion killer.
When you don’t believe in right and wrong, you never have to worry about being wrong.
Most of us have a sense of right and wrong. The Apostle Paul would say it’s written on our hearts automatically (Romans 2:15). We think it comes from our parents, yet there is some basic wiring at the heart level even for babies raised by wolves.
If we believe in right and wrong, we probably admit we have done wrong. Although we don’t like going there – we prefer to talk about how our scales are tipped in favour of the good we do. Regardless, John’s point is that we ought to admit that we do wrong in the eyes of God.
Once we admit that, we can embrace the remedy God offers – we can confess our sins and God will purify us. The underlying idea is to not get ourselves into such situations, yet there is comfort to know that we have an advocate in Jesus, who was the sacrifice which paid for our sins.
That’s right. The cool idea that we can be purified from our wrongdoing cannot be separated from the sacrifice of Jesus. Again, some people don’t want to hear that either. Jesus is a stumbling block to many. Yet he is the sacrifice. The only sacrifice.
Admit you have done wrong.
Accept that God offers a way to be forgiven and purified.
Jesus was sacrificed for us all.
This is why the message of Jesus is called Good News.
It’s the best news I’ve heard all day…
Amen.
Marc Kinna
marckinna 