The Promise of Pardon on the Other Side of Confession

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

The season of Lent is a good time — with our eyes fixed on the joy-producing hope of the sin-bearing death and life-giving resurrection of Jesus, our Messiah — to embrace confession of sin, and assurance of pardon.

Confess your sins to God:

O merciful Father, regard not what we have done against you, but what our blessed Savior has done for us. Regard not what we have made ourselves; but what he is made unto us of you, our God. O that Christ may be to every one of our souls, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption!

That his precious blood may cleanse us from all our sins; and that your Holy Spirit may renew and sanctify our souls.

May he crucify our flesh with its affections and lusts, and mortify all our members which are upon earth. O let not sin reign in our mortal bodies, that we should obey in the lusts thereof; but being made free from sin, let us be the servants of righteousness. Amen.

John Wesley

Assurance of Pardon — Receive these words of comfort from God:

O Israel, hope in Yahweh!
For with Yahweh there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalm 130:7-8