How To Be Right With God

Key Text 1 John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

A good example is the life of Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. They sold a piece of property and only took a portion of the profits to the apostle’s feet. Peter asked Ananias about his actions, but Ananias did not tell the truth and lied. I believe he thought he was lying to man because Peter is one who asked the question, but it was the Holy Spirit speaking through to Peter. His wife then came after him and lied as well and ended up dying like her husband. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Triune God and lying to Him is sin. Matters of the spirit cannot be dealt with naturally. It must be spirit to spirit, see 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. It is important to be incredibly careful when we do not understand something. When we decide to tell lies or act based on our understanding, there is a high chance we will stumble and miss our step.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira had no truth in them and therefore could not tell the truth. They had no fear of God in them because the one who was in charge of their lives was Satan the father of lies, John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Their actions were a mockery to God who knows all things and they received their reward. Lying is a sin and like every other sin, there are consequences if the doer of the sin does not take responsibility and repent, Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

It is interesting that both Ananias and Sapphira did not repent of their sins. As Peter was talking about their actions especially with Ananias, he could have said something and repented of his sin, but he just kept silent. For forgiveness to occur there must be a confession of sins, because if one remains silent, then they are still in sin and comfortable with it.

The silence when in sin shows disregard of God’s holiness and lack of reverence towards God. This could explain the judgment towards this couple. Had they humbled themselves towards God and repented they would have been forgiven but it was not in them. Ps 32:3-5 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

There is suffering that comes with sin when an individual refuses to acknowledge and repent of their sins, Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” On the other hand, there is forgiveness and blessings that come with a repentant soul, see Psalm 32:1-2 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! God is a merciful God and He gives everyone a chance to correct their ways through repentance. His love is so great that He forgives all our sins when we confess them, 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. It does not matter how grievous your sins may be, I want to encourage you to confess them to God and watch Him transform your life to a new and glorious one. In the book of Luke 15:11-32, we read about a man who had two sons. The younger son asked for his inheritance and went his way while the older son was left home with his father.

At the end of the parable, we read about younger son also known as the prodigal son or the lost son, coming back home to his father and asks his forgiveness because he had lived his life unwisely and spent all his inheritance. The father then forgives him and welcomes him with great joy by celebrating his return. God does not despise a repentant heart, He welcomes such a person into His warm embrace; Luke 15:7,10; Romans 10:9-10; Psalm 51:7. Romans 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. If you would like to accept Jesus and all that He has done for you, say this prayer and mean it from your heart:

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and dying for me on the cross. Your precious blood washes me clean of every sin. You are my Lord and my Saviour, now and forever. I believe that You rose from the dead and that You are alive today. Because of Your finished work, I am now a beloved child of God and heaven is my home. Thank You for giving me eternal life and filling my heart with Your peace and joy. Amen.”

If you have said this prayer and would like to know more about your new life in Christ Jesus, please contact us at info@godscherishedones.com