Experiencing God's Love and Forgiveness, Part 2

You can experience God's love and forgiveness every day

Even though you are totally forgiven, you still need to deal with your sins on a day-to-day basis in order to experience continuing fellowship with God. Let’s look at how you restore your fellowship with God.

Confession – agreeing with God about sin.

When God brings to your attention the fact that something you have done is sin, confess it. This confession involves at least three factors:

1. Agree with God that you have sinned.
2. Agree that God has already forgiven you.
3. Trust God to change your attitudes and actions toward Him and away from your sin.

By turning back to God and away from your sin, you will experience His love and forgiveness provided by Christ’s death on the cross. Instead of guilt, condemnation, and punishment, your fellowship with God will be restored.

Confession – putting it into practice.

1. Ask God to reveal sin in your life.
2. List these on a piece of paper. Be completely honest as this is just between you and God.
3. After completing your list, write over it the promise of 1 John 1:9.
4. Thank God for the forgiveness He has provided for you through what Christ did on the cross.
5. Tear up the list and throw it away.

How often do you need to confess your sins to God?

Confession – experiencing the results.

You should not feel guilt after you have confessed your sins. Your sins are forgiven. (Psalms 32:5; 103:12; Isaiah 43:25)

Understanding God’s great love and forgiveness allows Christians to enjoy a growing fellowship with Him.

How would your life be affected by applying these truths? In light of what we have looked at concerning guilt and forgiveness, how would you complete this statement: “When I have confessed all my sins, I...”