"If We Say..." (1 John 1:4-10, Psalm 51:1-13)
Rev. William L. Barron, October 20, 2019Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Part 3 The Biblical Doctrines of the Apostles’ Creed: We believe in the forgiveness of sins. John instructs us that we must acknowledge the real guilt of sin. He counteracts false teachings in the early church that belittled the existence of one’s sinful nature. Denying our sin means we are destroying our fellowship with God, deceiving ourselves, and calling God a liar. We must daily confess our sins, and God is faithful and just to forgive us. The Creed’s statement supports our belief in God’s Word that acknowledges our sin’s depth, and acknowledges the forgiveness of that sin that only Christ can give.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Why Descend Into Hades? | None | The Church is the Communion of the Saints » |
1 John 1:4–10 (Listen)
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
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.
(ESV)
Psalm 51:1–13 (Listen)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51:1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
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.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
(ESV)