Daily Bread_March 6, 2014

Title: The Only Remedy for the Sin Problem

Text:

1 John 1:5-10 (ESV)
⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Observation:

None of us is perfect; and God is the only one who knows our heart. We can never say I will, and I shall in our strength alone. The writer of our text makes our condition clear when he says this.

1 John 1:8 (ESV)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

We can say I will and I shall; however, there is always, “But, God”. Without Him we are lost and undone; without hope in this world, and the world to come.

Psalm 101:2 (ESV)
I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;

David could make this declaration because of the greatness and the graciousness of His God. David was a man of faith, and a man of prayer. He trusted in the Lord with his whole heart.

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹ Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

What David was able to be and do was by the power of God. David was not a perfect man. However, he was blameless in the eyes of God. What matters is what is in your heart. Jesus is the only one who can change and cleanse our sinful hearts.

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Prayer:

Father God, I acknowledge my weakness; that I am prone to go astray when I take my focus off of You. Father, I thank You for the precious and royal blood of Jesus. In His name I walk, and in His name I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

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