All Is Forgiven When All Is Confessed

Matt 6:12 "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."

Several years ago there was a movie that was a big hit titled "Love Story". Most people probably don't know much about the movie, but there is a quote from the movie that became quite popular - "love means never having to say you are sorry". Now that time has passed and we have had a chance to think about it, I believe they were way off base. If anything, I think we should say "love means that we can say I am sorry", because we know that the one we have offended is ready and willing to forgive us. And when it comes to asking God to forgive us, it is even greater, because He loves us so much that, as His children, He has already forgiven us. Now before you begin jumping to any conclusions, lets take a minute and consider the whys and whos of forgiveness. In I John 1:9 we find that if we confess (ask God to forgive us) He is faithful to forgive us. Now the word confess there actually means to agree with. So confession is agreeing with God that what I did that the Holy Spirit is convicting me of , was in fact a sin. Now, since God has already forgiven me, then the asking for forgiveness is for my benefit, not God's. It puts me in right standing with God. The same idea carries over into the mortal world. When you have offended someone and you know it, then you really don't want to be around that person. So, your fellowship with them is broken. Even if they have already forgiven you, there is still the guilt factor that keeps you separated. Now, don't let another sin, pride, keep you from doing what is right. Remember, all is forgiven when all is confessed.