WEBVTT 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:04.400 Good morning and thank you for beginning your day with us. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:07.360 I want to talk a little bit about guilt this morning. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:10.720 Great topic of conversation first thing in the morning, right? 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:14.160 Well, let me read to you an encouragement from 1 John 1.9. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:25.280 It says this if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:30.160 One of the most universal human experiences is the weight of guilt. 00:00:30.399 --> 00:00:35.600 Every one of us knows what it feels like to have that pit form in your stomach. 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:44.479 And guilt at times can cause us to act in a way that we know that we shouldn't, in a way that goes against what God desires for us. 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:53.679 Just like Adam and Eve in the garden, we might try to cover things up, or maybe we minimize our actions, or we even try to justify them. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:58.799 Or we may even try to ignore the conviction that we feel for our actions. 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:01.359 But God offers us a better way. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.159 This verse begins with a simple invitation. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:13.840 If we confess our sins, confession means we come honestly before God, that we stop pretending or trying to defend ourselves. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.719 We accept that we are guilty sinners, and then we bring that sin into the light. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:20.480 We bring it before God. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.040 And when we do that, this verse reminds us of who God is. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:29.040 It says that He is faithful and just to forgive us. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:33.840 That means that the weight of our guilt, the weight of our sin is gone. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:38.079 That means that forgiveness is not uncertain for us. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:42.799 It doesn't depend on how emotional we feel or how well we've performed. 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:44.079 God is faithful. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:45.760 He keeps his promises. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:54.400 And God is also just because our forgiveness has already been secured through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:57.359 Because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:59.680 God can forgive us completely. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.400 And notice the second promise in this verse. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:05.439 He doesn't only forgive us, he cleanses us. 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:08.000 God removes the stain of sin. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.560 He restores us and makes us clean. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:15.840 That means the sins we confess to him are covered by his grace. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:22.000 So today I want you to take a moment to come before the Lord with total honesty and transparency. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:33.039 If there is sin in your heart or your life, bring it to him, confess it, and trust this promise that God is faithful to forgive and to cleanse. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:38.719 And as you do, remember that confession is not meant to lead us into shame or guilt. 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.080 It leads us into the freedom of God's grace. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.520 That's all for this morning, and I hope that it was encouraging to you. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:49.919 May we strive to love Jesus more obediently and to make him known. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:50.960 Peace.