The Cleansing Christ

"You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance."

Psalm 90:8

The grace of God has been on display before Moses the servant of God penned this psalm inspired by the Holy Spirit.  God knows everything about us even though we have sinned.  He knows of our secret sins (ones we may not yet be aware of) and remains loving and compassionate toward us.  Our patience quickly runs out for "slow" learners, but God is patient with even the stubborn and disobedient.  If God will not write us off, we ought not to write anyone else off either.

The key verse of this mornings's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney was 1 John 1:9 which reads, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  As God's children, if we will meet His conditions to freely admit our guilt, He will pardon us of the sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Jesus has washed us of the penalty of sin and freed us from its power through His death and resurrection.  Though this spiritual transaction has been accomplished and cannot be earned or added to, confession and repentance ought to mark our lives as children of the light because we still sin.  As long as we live in these bodies of flesh in a world hostile to God, we will fall short of perfection.  God, on the other hand, will never fail us.

One thing about walking in the light is our previously secret sins are now visible to us like never before.  As long as we were chained in darkness we could not see how profoundly we needed cleansing.  When it comes to confessing our sin we often resemble young boys who can't understand after playing outside all day we need a shower - because just showered last week!  Our most thorough confession today does not include iniquity tomorrow may reveal.  The moment a cloud passes between us and the light of our Saviour, we ought to do our part to restore the break in fellowship.

The fact God knows all our sin up front and freely paid the price for them all is amazing, isn't it?  There was not a sin in the world God did not take into account when the blood of Jesus was shed on Calvary, and His blood atoned even for secret sins of those who repent and trust in Him.  Praise the LORD for the pardon granted us by His grace, and that we can be called the children of God without spot or blemish!