…truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that 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.
1 John 1:3-9
This has to be one of the sweetest passages in the entire Bible. It tells us how our fellowship with God is broken, as well as how it can be restored. Grasping this truth will help us to maintain our walk with God, and there is no greater joy on earth than that!
From time to time my Microsoft Outlook pops up with the message ‘Send/Receive Error.’ When I see this message displayed, I know that my link to the Internet has been broken. My emails are not getting out, nor am I able to access what others are trying to tell me. It can be an exasperating experience when you want to connect with others and can’t.
Likewise sin breaks my fellowship with God. My link with Him is broken, and we are no longer in sweet communication.
What’s the problem?
The thrice-holy God is pure light. As sinners, we are total darkness. The two don’t mix, and we are disconnected from each other until the Lord Jesus graciously cleanses us from all of our sin through His precious blood. I needed the blood of Jesus Christ to save me and place me ‘in Christ’ initially, and I still need His blood to cleanse me from sin moment by moment.
This cleansing ‘from all unrighteousness’ takes place when I confess my filthy sins to God. To confess simply means that I agree with God that what I did (or neglected to do) was to ‘walk in darkness.’ It is to say, ‘Lord, You are right and I was wrong to ______.’ He instantly applies the blood of Jesus Christ to that sin, forgiving me of it. To forgive means to send away. He no longer holds against me that sin. The fellowship or connection with God is restored.
This is how to solve spiritual Send/Receive errors.
Father, how faithful and just You are to provide for my cleansing through the priceless blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for not just ignoring my sin. Thank You for the guilt that I feel in my conscience when I wrong You. Thank You for not just ‘getting over it,’ or pretending that things are OK between us. Thank You that You trouble my sensitive conscience about that sin until I confess it. Thank You that at that moment of repentance, You graciously forgive me and cleanse me. I praise You that You are true to keep Your promise. Enable me to walk aright with You in sweet fellowship with the living God Yourself! I ask this in the worthy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.