All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
This ancient prophecy given through Isaiah teaches us that each and every one of us, like a wayward sheep, has turned aside from the way of the LORD and gone his own way. We have all sinned against our Creator and stand guilty before God. But the LORD has laid the guilt and punishment for the sins of all upon Him – on His own dear Son, Christ Jesus – and Jesus atoned for the sins of all when He suffered and died on the cross that we might look to Him in faith and be forgiven and have life everlasting!
I have sinned, O LORD. I have turned aside from Your holy commandments and walked in my own sinful ways. Pardon my sin and forgive my iniquity for the sake of the holy and precious blood of the Son, Christ Jesus, and His atoning sacrifice on the cross in my stead. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 6:12-13
Since we who believe and have been baptized have been joined to Christ in His death — in payment for our sins — and in His resurrection — that we might be made alive to God — we are urged to present our bodies to God as being alive from the dead rather than to our old sinful passions which lead back into death.
Grant that I live for You, O God, as one joined to Christ in baptism and dead to sin but raised up to live for You. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:10-11
Since Jesus died once for the sins of all and now lives to God, so we also should regard ourselves as truly dead to sin, because our sin was punished on the cross of Christ, and alive to God through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As Christ died for my sins and rose again to live unto You, grant that I now live for You, O God, as one who has died to sin and is alive to You through faith in Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. Psalm 57:1
When trouble comes, those who trust in Christ take refuge in God’s mercy and forgiveness offered and given them for the sake of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, and hide me under the shadow of Thy wings. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Romans 6:5-7
When we were joined to Christ in Holy Baptism, our old sin-corrupted self was crucified with Christ on the cross and put to death that sin may no longer rule over us. And, being joined to Christ in His death, we also shall be raised up in the image and likeness of the risen Christ. Our old sinful nature is now crucified with Christ in order that we may now live for our risen Savior and not continue to serve sin or give in to its desires.
Grant that we count ourselves dead to sin but alive to You, dear Savior, and live for You in accord with your Word. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]