LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Forgive and Purify
"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).
It is common for us to take the word of God for our vision. We take the text and say: "If we confess our sins, he forgives us". It is true, our Father is faithful and forgives us, but the danger is to make it a practice. God's forgiveness precedes purification; but forgiveness without purification would not be complete.
God is perfect and just. He not only forgives us, but also purifies us from all injustice. Unconsciously perhaps, we always want to be forgiven; this because forgiveness does not bring harm to the forgiven, but rather to the one who forgives. But purification brings us several losses: loss of what we love, of what satisfies us and pleases the flesh.
Forgiveness without purification brings no change: "Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Ps. 51:7). To forgive is to no longer take sin into account, but to purify is to remove all impurity. To forgive you need a word or a gesture, but to purify you need the fire of affliction (Zech. 13:9).
The Lord forgives us and purifies us from all injustice. God does not show himself to us simply forgiving us, because he does not want for himself a forgiven people, but a pure one, just as he is pure: "Clean you will show yourself to the clean, and severe you will be to the wicked" (Ps. 18:26).
Forgiveness costs us nothing; however, it came at a high cost to God: the life of his Son. But purification means the loss of everything that is ours, of our flesh, of our self, so that He who is pure may be manifested in us. Like a diamond, impurities have to be removed, so that its inner purity is manifested. Everyone who has this hope is not satisfied with forgiveness alone, but purifies himself just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
If we come to ask for forgiveness more than once for the same injustice, it is because we are not purified from it. God is merciful to forgive us, but he is also powerful to purify us from all injustice. The shed blood forgave us, but now God purifies those who walk in the light (1 John 1:7).
Christ crucified justified us, but now the cross has the purpose of mortifying the works of the body so that his holy life may be manifested (2 Cor. 4.11). Let us pray like this: 'Lord, not only forgive me, but also purify me from all unrighteousness'. Let us only take care not to reject the oven: the methods, the people and even the servants that the Lord will provide himself to fulfill his will: "And the same God of peace sanctify you completely; and all your being, spirit, soul and body, be kept blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you, and he also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24). The Lord does this to his children so that we may be partakers of his holiness (Heb. 12:10).