...pray for forgiveness...

“1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” 1 John 2:1-2.

This is a short but very important set of verses today. John knows he is writing to sinners like you and me, so what he is writing are words meant to help us not to sin. Yet John knows that we are all sinners, so what he wishes to assure us of is the truth that Jesus Christ is our advocate with God the Father Jesus is the Righteous One, the One who alone is one with the father, and as such in the “atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (see Verses 1 & 2).

Here it is again, Jesus’ death on the Cross is the atoning sacrifice of God for our sins. Jesus’ death, in other words, atones for our sins. This means that the death of Jesus on the Cross make amends for our sins, or provides compensation for our sins and wrongdoings, and wipes away our sins and offenses.

So we must live as much as possible, with the grace of God, living apart from sin. But when we do sin, we must confess our sins in search of the forgiveness and mercy on God, whose only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, died on the Cross. Jesus’ death on the Cross is the forgiveness of our sins. The Cross of Jesus Christ atones for our sins, provides compensation for our sins and wrongdoings, and wipes away our sins and offenses.

Today, then, pray for forgiveness. Confess your sins, and with the grace of God, walk this day free of sin.

Pray for this grace from God.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.