“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2
Why can we confess our sins and look in faith to God for pardon and forgiveness? How can a holy God be faithful and just in forgiving us all our sins? It is because our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who lived a righteous and holy life in our stead, made full atonement for our sins and the sins of all when He suffered and died on the cross.
O gracious and merciful God, forgive my sins and grant me pardon for the sake of Christ’s perfect righteousness in my stead and His perfect sacrifice for my sins. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9
If we deny the truth that we are sinners and guilty under God’s law, we are only deceiving ourselves. If we agree with God’s Word and acknowledge our guilt and sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness for the sake of the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, in our stead.
I am sinful and unclean, O God. Pardon my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin for the sake of Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross in my stead. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” Psalm 12:1
David prayed to the LORD for His help because the godly, those who revered the LORD God and trusted in His Word, were disappearing from among the people of this world. We, too, turn to the LORD God in prayer for His help and protection in a world where true believers are becoming fewer and fewer, and so often the godless rule.
Help us, O LORD, in these trying times and give us the strength to bear witness to the truth of Your Word and to the salvation You have provided in the Son. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
The Bible sets before us “life and death, blessing and cursing.” If we continue on in rebellion against the LORD God, going our own ways and doing our own things, we continue in spiritual death and will receive God’s judgments and eternal death and damnation. If, by the grace of God, we are brought to see the error of our ways and repent, looking in faith to Christ Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world, we shall receive of the LORD blessing and life eternal in His kingdom.
Open my eyes to the truth of Your Word, O LORD, and grant that I repent of my sinful ways and look to you in faith for mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ and His cross. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
“But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.” Deuteronomy 30:17-18
Do we turn aside from worshiping and serving the true God? We do so whenever we make a god in our own image, when we believe in and worship a god who thinks and acts in agreement with our thoughts, views and opinions (cf. Ex. 20:1-6). And to worship and serve any god or understanding of god besides the God who has revealed himself to us in the Bible is idolatry and brings God’s wrath and punishment.
Forgive us, O God, for attempting to conform You to our image instead of worshiping and serving You as You have revealed Yourself to us in the Bible. Grant that we worship and serve only You. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]
