| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Peter G. Chase" |
| Date: |
26 Mar 2006 12:31:34 AM |
| Object: |
DN Dealing with Sin 3/26/2006 |
DRAWING NEAR
March 26
Dealing with Sin
"Forgive us our debts" (Matt. 6:12).
Christians struggle with sin. That surely comes as no surprise to
you. As you mature in Christ, the frequency of your sinning
decreases, but your sensitivity to it increases. That doesn't mean
you are more easily tempted, but that you are more aware of the
subtleties of sin and how it dishonors God.
Some people think you should never confess your sins or seek
forgiveness, but the Lord instructed us to do so when He said for us
to pray, "Forgive us our debts" (Matt. 6:12). That's the believer's
prayer for the Father's forgiveness.
John said, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and righteous 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). That passage
doesn't tell us how to get saved, as many have taught. It tells us
how to distinguish believers from unbelievers: believers confess
their sins; unbelievers don't.
The phrase "forgive us" in Matthew 6:12 implies the need for
forgiveness. "Debts" translates a Greek word that was used to speak
of a moral or monetary debt. In Matthew 6:12 it refers to sins. When
you sin, you owe to God a consequence or a debt because you have
violated His holiness.
When you sin as a believer, you don't lose your salvation but you
will face God's chastening if you don't repent. Hebrews 12 says,
"Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son
whom He receives . . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may
share His holiness" (vv. 6, 10).
If you are harboring sin, confess it now and allow God to cleanse you
and use you today for His glory.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Write down why God's forgiveness is important to you, then express
those thoughts to Him in praise.
For Further Study:
Read Psalm 38.
What physical and emotional ailments did David experience as a
result of his sin? What was his attitude toward God as he
confessed his sin?
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Psalm 38 (NKJV)
38:1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your
hot displeasure!
2 For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any
health in my bones Because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they
are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds are foul and festering Because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day
long.
7 For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness
in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of
my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden
from You.
10 My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my
eyes, it also has gone from me.
11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my
relatives stand afar off.
12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my
hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear; And I am like a mute who
does not open his mouth.
14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth is no
response.
15 For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, "Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my
foot slips, they exalt themselves against me."
17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who
hate me wrongfully have multiplied.
20 Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries,
because I follow what is good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
http://www.gty.org/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
.
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