Your Sins Are Forgiven

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

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

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

                                                (1 John 1:8-10 KJV)

We are all sinners. There is no getting around that fact. When the guilt lays heavy upon our hearts it behooves us to turn to the LORD, confess our sins, and receive the forgiveness that God has so freely bestowed upon us through our Saviour, Jesus the Christ.

As Lutherans, we are taught that we should daily confess our sins before God. However; sometimes, the guilt lays so heavy on our hearts and minds that it is difficult for us to forgive ourselves. We know that we are not worthy of forgiveness. We don't want to be the one's responsible for the spilling of the blood of Jesus. No one, we might think, should have to die for our sins. But, he did. It is done. It is finished. He loves you that much. You are forgiven.

As a pastor, I was often asked if I hear confessions. Of course! There are some who think that their confessions should be private and only between them and God. No one else needs to hear about our sins. Confession, with your pastor remains private, always. (If it is not - find a new confessor) Private confession is not necessary to receive forgiveness. Confessing directly to God is more than sufficient. However; sometimes, it is necessary, when our guilt seems to overwhelm us and we are unable to forgive ourselves, to be able to speak aloud our sins and hear the declaration that God forgives you. For the sake of His Son, Jesus the Christ, you are forgiven. 

There is no shame in confessing our sins. There is only freedom and peace received in the reconciling Word of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bearing Christ's Name

Some of Christ Lutheran's Worship Team That Ministers to

residents at Princeton Senior Living, Palm Coast, FL

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:45-48 NIV)

Those first disciples were witnesses. We, too, are witnesses. We must have seen or heard or experienced something in order to bear the name of Christ. What was it? Surely, you do not call yourself Christian because you belong to a specific earthly congregation. There is more to being a Christian than being on someone's membership rolls. As one of my friends use to remind her congregation, "Sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car anymore than sitting in a church makes you a Christian."

Christian's bear the name of Christ and we are to bear it to the entire world. We are to proclaim, in Christ's name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins, to all nations; to all people. Now, repentance does not mean simply apologizing. It means change. It means turning around and doing things in a way that will reflect the love of God for all people. It means, even as Christ put others before himself, even his own life; we are to put the needs of others before our own desires. We are to set aside our own desires so that the will of God may be done.

We do not bear the name of Christ for our sakes alone. We ought not hide our faith for a hidden faith is no faith at all. Our faith may be personal; but, it cannot be private. We are to proclaim the mighty works of God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, to all the world, for as Christians, we are witnesses to the great love that God has for all people.

May God help us to be more faithful witnesses to all that He has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J