Receiving the Gift Through Confession

 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Along with John 3:16, this scripture is used to stress what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. God gave His Son to die and paid the price for our sins, so that we would not die and go to eternal damnation. The message of the Gospel is one of good news, and the good news is that we don’t have to perish. But the good news does come with conditions. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and to confess our sinfulness to Him, and accept His forgiveness. It is not God's desire that anyone would die in their sins and go to hell. The message to believers is to go out and tell others of this great gift. This is the greatest gift given to man. We celebrate at this time of the year Christmas to tell the world that God gave the most important gift to mankind when He gave His son to be the supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world. Many will go through this season with the knowledge that Jesus came to this world, and lived among us, and celebrate this great event in history, but many have yet to come to the foot of the cross and confess their sins and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness. This is the reason for the season: Jesus, who was not only born into this world, but also gave his life as the greatest gift man has ever received. We received this gift by confessing our sins. He is faithful to forgive. 

Riches of His Grace

Eph 1:7 “ in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,”-

The favor of God is given to us as a gift. Because of His grace, we don’t have to suffer the judgment of our sin. His grace is a gift of love that was demonstrated by the giving of His life to pay for our sins. Forgiveness for our  sinful ways is provided through the shedding of the blood of Jesus. We do not deserve it, but His grace provides it. Our responsibility is to accept this free gift. When we do, He changes our life so drastically that we desire to live a life that will please Him. His commandments are not grievous, His grace allows us to live each day with desire to serve Him. A person truly saved by the grace of God is motivated by love to share this grace to others. To pass it forward, to show our neighbor that God’s love can give purpose to life and a joy everlasting.