Forgiveness for the Guilty
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Confession as the remedy for sin
In John Wesley`s day...[i]f you wanted to be in a small group, you had to answer these questions before you could join. Try to imagine yourself answering these questions before you get into a group:
  • Do you have forgiveness of your sins and peace with God?
  • Do you desire to be told of your faults?
  • Do you desire to be told of all your faults and told plainly and clearly?
  • Does any sin, inward or outward, have dominion over you?
  • Do you desire that every one of us should tell you, from time to time, whatsoever is in his heart concerning you?
  • Consider, do you desire that we should tell you whatsoever we think, whatsoever we fear, whatsoever we hear concerning you?
  • Do you desire that in doing this we should come as close as possible, we should cut to the quick, and search your heart to the bottom?
  • Is it your desire to be on this and all other occasions entirely open and speak everything that is in your heart without exception, without disguise, without reserve?

    Can you imagine answering those questions before you could get in a group? People did, and they said, ?Yes? by the thousands. Why? Because there is such a poweršthere is so much freedom in being in community with God and with other people where you don`t hide any more.

    You say, This is who I am. This is my fallen-ness. This is so important.



    By: John Ortberg
    Category: Forgiveness for the Guilty
    • Comment Helpful? Favorite Violation
    Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes these fabulous, fabulous words:
  • He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. It may be the Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, Common Prayer, all their fellowship and service, may still be left to their aloneness. The final breakthrough to communion-to community-does not occur because although they have fellowship with each other as believers and as devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout-as sinners. The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everyone must conceal his sin,from himself and from the community. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. ''Life Together: the Classic Exploration of Faith in Community''

    Churches and home groups and marriages and friendships stagnate when sin gets in, and we die inside.

    Every time there`s a great movement of the Spirit of God, you mark it down. One of the things that happen is that there is Confession. People come out of hiding.



    By: John Ortberg
    Category: Forgiveness for the Guilty
    • Comment Helpful? Favorite Violation

    Jesus Portrays Forgiveness for the Unworthy

    "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father."
    "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." ( Luke 15:11-24)

    Jesus Forgives Those Who Directly Hurt Him

     "When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him." ( Luke 23:33-35)

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