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Key Verse:
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I. The Big “IF”.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess…
There are many reason why a person will refuse to accept Christ for the forgiveness of their sins:
1. Ignorance of the Desperate Need of Christ.
Luke 5:31-32 (NKJV)
31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
2. Unwilling to Repent.
John 3:19 (NKJV)
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3. Unbelief.
John 5:40 (NKJV)
But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
4. Needing More Proof.
Matthew 16:4 (NKJV)
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
II. Confessing.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins,
Confessed sin can hold us captive and distance us from the blessings of God.
Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV)
He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
III. Salvation is from the Lord.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
…He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…
God extends Grace to all who come to Him in Faith.
Jonah 2:9 (NKJV)
Salvation is of the Lord.”
Psalm 32:5 (NKJV)
I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God.
Genesis 3:9-10
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Notice it was God who sought after Adam and Eve. Notice that Adam answered the call of God! God questioned Adam and Eve and they confessed!
Genesis 3:10-14 (NKJV)
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Blood was spilled. Jesus Christ’s blood was spilled for us and He is the PERFECT offering to God for all our sins!
Genesis 3:21 (NKJV)
Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
IV. We Are Made Perfect in Him.
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When we believe in Jesus as our Savior, He bares our sins for us. God no longer sees our sins, but sees His perfect Son within us!
Romans 8:16-17 (NKJV)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
God is calling us, but we must take the action to answer! Our response to God must be humble and honest.