He Forgives, He Loves: 1 John

1 John 1:8-9 is part of the liturgy (which Divine Service, I'm not sure), but it is a beautiful passage of scripture that is really speaking to me right now:

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

I do not claim to be without sin.  I know my sinfulness all too well.  But God is faithful and he forgives and purifies me!  It's interesting that John says that God is just.  He is, but if you think about it, forgiving our sins is not the fair thing to do at all.  What we deserve is everlasting condemnation.  But God also knew a way that he could be just and forgiving at the same time.  He sent Jesus, who took our sin and our well-deserved punishment on himself, and put his righteousness on us.  So when God looks at us, he sees Jesus and forgives the sins that Jesus already paid for.

John continues in chapter 2, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1-2).  This sums up nicely what I just wrote!

When I consider my sinfulness, it is a wonder that God loves and claims me.  But he does! John writes in chapter 3, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!"  We are God's children!  Is that not wondrous?  God loves us so much, he lavishes love on us (that's a great word), he has made us his children.  Nothing could be more amazing.

Today, I am going to confess my sins to God, knowing that he will forgive them, and I am going to remember that he loves me and has made me his own child.