| In addition to the confessions of truth as shared on page 2, it is vital that we, the sinner, also humble ourselves by confessing to God our sins and iniquities and then repenting of those evil, disobediant thoughts and deeds. The scriptures write; 13. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. - Proverbs 28:13 3. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. - Luke 17:3-4 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. - Psalms 32:5 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9. 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 When we choose to humble ourselves and be willing to admit to God that we are sinners and that we are wicked in His eyes. Then God responds to that confession of sin and wickedness and instead of condemning us, God offers His mercy and grace and cleans us from our sins and all of our unrighteousness. When we confess our sins and transgressions then God is always ready and willing to provide forgiveness and cleansing rather than condemnation. Have you confessed your sins and wickedness to God? If you have not, I would encourage you to do so. God has no desire to destroy you or me, but rather to clean and save us from our sins and give us eternal life in His Son, Jesus Christ. Again, the scriptures are clear that salvation in God cannot be obtained by good deeds or good works which we perform. No sinner can work for the salvation which God already freely offers to those who simply choose to believe on His Son Jesus Christ. The scriptures write; [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. - Romans 3:27-28 [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. [21] But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; [22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: - Romans 3:20-24 These scriptures in the book of Romans help to reveal that the salvation which God has made available through His Son, Jesus Christ, is a salvation which cannot be obtained by any works or effort that we do. Even when those good works are done in the best of intentions. The salvation of God is His work and His work alone, the end result being eternal life which He freely provides. No man can perform any work or act in order to earn salvation and eternal life. Salvation in Christ is the work of God alone which He freely offers and in turn we, the sinner, simply freely believe in that work and confess it with our mouth. Salvation, eternal life, is the gift of God; [22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. [23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 6:22-23 Notice that in the book of Romans, we can be free from sin and its� bondage and its� consequence, which is death. God offers to each of us His free gift of salvation which is eternal life which can only come through His Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift and therefore cannot be earned due to good works; 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:4-10 Once again the scriptures make clear that it is the grace, ( that is to say the unmerited and undeserved favor of God ), by which we, the sinner, have been saved. Our good works and efforts, even done with the best and sincerest of intentions, cannot cause us to obtain salvation. Salvation cannot be earned or bought by what we do. But God by His grace freely offers the gift of salvation whereby we in turn believe in that salvation by faith in our hearts and receive that truth in order to have eternal life with God; 10. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. - 1 John 5:10-13 ( see also John 3:15-18 & 5:26 ) Believing on Jesus, making confession that what the scriptures write about Him is true, causes the sinner to be born again. That is to say, a spiritual birth takes place and the sinner is now a saint of God, a new creation of God. God saves the sinner from spiritual darkness, the consequence which is spiritual death, and therefore the saint of God, rather than receiving eternal condemnation for sins receives spiritual light and eternal life in Gods' eternal kingdom; 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: - Colossians 1:12-14 |
| [email protected] - Roger |