Genesis 3:8-13; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Matthew 26:75; Romans 8:1
Memory Texts: Psalm 130:3,4 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? [4] But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
Guilt responses
- Adam hid then blamed the serpent and Eve
- Joseph’s brothers rehearsing their wrong
- David’s confession about Bathsheba (Ps 32) relieved physical as well as psychological symptoms
- Peter’s betrayal of Jesus brought despair
Is confession necessary to alleviate guilt?
- Jesus asked God to forgive those who killed Him, before they confessed.
God’s forgiveness
- What is reasonable (“let us reason together” Isa 1:18) about God’s radical forgiveness?
- How does one convince oneself that God has forgiven them when they don’t feel forgiven?
- If we have confessed our offense to the one we have wronged, why do we need to confess to God and seek God’s forgiveness?
