“Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:5-6 ESV). In John’s first epistle, he tells us that he wrote it
“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 ESV). The apostle John declared the wonderful news that the blood of Jesus cleanses believers from all sin. How is the blood applied? By confession. Confession is agreeing with God
“My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm” (Daniel 6:22 ESV). Daniel’s story is instructive to those who live as a religious minority under a worldly government. God gave
“And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven!” (Daniel 5:22-23 ESV). Daniel warned Belshazzar, king of Babylon, that he had not learned to honor God and give Him thanks, even though he had witnessed how God had
“Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4:27 ESV) After Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream, he boldly added advice that the king repent of sin
“But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter day” (Daniel 2:28 ESV). Daniel introduced Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon, to the God of heaven. He made it clear that what the king had asked of his wisemen was an impossible
“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself” (Daniel 1:8 ESV). Daniel knew what it was like to live out his faith within a foreign culture. Even though
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 ESV). The first impulse of sinful humanity, as displayed in Adam and Eve, is the desire to conceal sin. For after they transgressed God’s command and ate of the forbidden fruit, they immediately sought to hide
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV). The Church is not a place, but a people. We have not built it, we are being built
“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24 ESV). Psalm 119 is an acrostic based on the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s theme is appropriately the Word of God. Every verse is an ode to the Scriptures. In verse 24, the psalmist described the Word as God’s “testimonies” and as his