WHO DUN IT?

READING: 1 JOHN 1:5-10

Verse 9: “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

People are at times reluctant to accept responsibility for their sins. Sometimes they will blame others. After his sin Adam said to God, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” His statement sounds as though Adam was saying he would not have sinned if God had not given him Eve, or Eve had not given him the fruit. At other times people try to use ignorance to excuse sin. In Exodus 32:24, Aaron made a golden idol in the form of a calf. He said that the people gave him gold, he threw it into the fire and this calf came out. It was all mysterious to him. That’s like saying, “I was just walking down the street minding my own business, and all of a sudden sin had happened. It wasn’t my fault.” Contrary to these examples, the Bible requires that we take responsibility for our sins. We are promised that our confessed sins will be forgiven. Our Savior paid the price for those sins so that we can have forgiveness as a gift. We are able to benefit from this gift when we take responsibility and receive it according to God’s provision. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What limit is established for the amount of unrighteousness that will be forgiven?

2. What happens to those who do not take responsibility?