Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 17
Sunday


HERO
OVER SIN

READ:
1 John 1
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Create in me a clean
heart, O God.
__Psalm 51:10
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Not long ago, someone asked me a very tough question: "What is the longest you have gone without sinning? A week, a day, an hour?" How can we answer a question like that? If we're truthful, we might say, "I can't live a day without sinning." Or if we look back over the past week, we might see that we haven't confessed to God even one sin. But we would be fooling ourselves if we said we hadn't sinned in our thoughts or actions for a week.

God knows our hearts and whether we're sensitive to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. If we really know ourselves, we take 1 John 1:8 to heart, "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." We certainly don't want verse 10 to be true of us, "If we say that we have not sinned,...His word is not in us."

A more encouraging question to ask might be: "What is God's response to our admission of sin and need for forgiveness?" The answer: "If we confess....He is faithful and just to forgive us" (v.9). Jesus has taken our sin problem upon Himself by dying in our place and rising again. That's why He can create in us "a clean heart" (Ps. 51:10). My young friend Jaydon is right when he says, "Jesus is the hero over our sins." __Anne Cetas

``````````````````No one can say he doesn't need``````````````````
``````````````````````Forgiveness for his sin,`````````````````````
````````````````For all must come to Christ by faith````````````````
`````````````````To have new life within. __Branon````````````````
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Christ's forgiveness is the door to a new beginning.

********************************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 John 1****************************

1 That which was from the
beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we
have looked upon, and our
hands have handled,
concerning the Word of
life__ 2 the life was
manifested, and we have
seen, and bear witness, and
declare to you that eternal
life which was with the
Father and was manifested
to us__ 3 that which we have
seen and heard we declare to
you, that you also may have
fellowship with us; and truly
our fellowship is with the
Father and with His son
Jesus Christ. 4 And these
things we write to you that
your joy may be full.

5 This is the message which
we have heard from Him
and declare to you, that God
is light and in Him is no
darkness at all. 6 If we say
that we have fellowship with
Him, and walk in darkness,
we lie and do not practice
the truth. 7 But if we walk in
the light as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.

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.

10 If we say that we have not
sinned, we make Him a liar,
and His word is not in us.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
First John begins with the clear witness of the apostolic message.
Central to it are the claims that Jesus Christ is divine and preexistent
and became human. Being in relationship with Christ brings
supernatural joy. But to maintain this experience, it is necessary to
confess and repent of personal sin. After experiencing cleansing, we are
to yield our hearts to God and walk in the light of His presence.