it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NASB

Union With God
JULY 24, 2023

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Recommended Reading: 1 John 1:1-10
The New Testament word fellowship (koinonia) comes from a root word that means “common.” From that idea come the notions of commonality, community, and communion. The apostle John in his first epistle wrote about the fellowship we have “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3)—and, therefore, the fellowship we have with others who are in fellowship with God. But the idea of fellowship (commonality, union) with God raises the question: What happens to our union with God when we sin?

John anticipated the question and went on to write, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). He then put this theology in practical terms: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” No one lives a sinless life, so we all need to know how to enjoy our fellowship, our oneness, and our communion with God through confession and forgiveness.

Never doubt God’s desire to fellowship with you. Confess your failures to Him and receive His forgiveness.

The fellowship of God is delightful beyond all telling.
A. W. Tozer

July 12

Wash Me!
Bible in a Year:
Psalms 4–6
Acts 17:16–34
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Psalm 51:1-7
“Wash me!” Though those words weren’t written on my vehicle, they could have been. So, off to the car wash I went, and so did other drivers who wanted relief from the grimy leftovers from salted roads following a recent snowfall. The lines were long, and the service was slow. But it was worth the wait. I left with a clean vehicle and, as compensation for service delay, the car wash was free of charge!

Getting cleaned at someone else’s expense—that’s the gospel of Jesus Christ. God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus, has provided forgiveness for our sins. Who among us hasn’t felt the need “to bathe” when the “dirt and grime” of life have clung to us? When we’re stained by selfish thoughts or actions that harm ourselves or others and rob us of peace with God? Psalm 51 is the cry of David when temptation had triumphed in his life. When confronted by a spiritual mentor about his sin (see 2 Samuel 12), he prayed a “Wash me!” prayer: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (v. 7). Feeling dirty and guilty? Make your way to Jesus and remember these words: ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

By: Arthur Jackson

Reflect & Pray
What does it mean for you to cry out to God, “Wash me”? What’s keeping you from asking for His free forgiveness and cleansing through Jesus now?

God of heaven, You see every stain in my life that needs to be dealt with. Wash me, forgive me, and help me to honor You. Amen.

Claiming Our Freedom from Sin's Control

May 18, 2023
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Scriptures: Romans 6:11

In the wonderful sixth chapter of Romans, Paul presents three techniques for living by grace, above sin's domination. I find each one linked to a particular term he uses:

Know—"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; . . . knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him" (vv. 3, 6, 9).

Consider—"Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (v. 11).

Present—"And do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (v. 13).

In order for us to live free from sin's control, free from the old master, with the power to walk a new kind of life, we have to know something, we have to consider something, and we have to present something.

Christ died for us on the cross. He was raised from the dead for us at the tomb. When we believed in the Savior's death and resurrection, we were "dipped" into the same scene. Our identity was changed. We didn't feel it, we didn't see it, we didn't hear it, but it occurred, nevertheless. When we came to Christ, we were placed into Him as His death became ours, His victorious resurrection became ours, His "awakening" to new life became our "awakening," His powerful walk became our powerful walk. Before we can experience the benefits of all that, we have to know it. The Christian life is not stumbling along, hoping to keep up with the Savior. He lives in me and I live in Him. And in this identification with Him, His power becomes mine. His very life becomes my life, guaranteeing that His victory over sin is mine to claim. I no longer need to live as a slave to sin.

"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God" (vv. 8–10).

You will meet well-meaning Christians who teach about crucifying oneself. But I have good news for you: That has already been done. You are in Christ. He was crucified once for all. He died for you so you never need to die again. Because we have our identification with Him, we have all the power needed to live the rest of our lives above the drag and dregs of slavery. Death to sin is an accomplished act, a finished fact. It has all been taken care of. A victorious walk begins with our knowing this fact. Christ's "Emancipation Proclamation" has put to death the whole idea of slavery to sin. Having died to sin's power, we are now free to serve our new Master.

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This is what the Mockingbird media continues to do. They lie, and even though they know the truth, they suppress it in unrighteousness. Sadly, many continue to believe their lies. Recently, The...