“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 ESV
conditional? What does it mean – ‘if’?
cleansing: once? continual? on request?
grace? what is it? who can explain?
What does it all mean?
Here’s an abbreviated story:
Boy finds rock in the woods – it’s dirty and lumpy and messy and a weird shape. Boy takes rock to waterfall and washes it. Viola! Rock is clean, smooth, beautiful, restored. Boy is amazed and well-pleased. Boy hides rock – in dirt and mud and muck. Rock is dirty and must be washed again. Only when stored in the waterfall is the rock made clean. The water cleanses EVERY time it is applied.
Grace is the waterfall. Grace is the desire and power of God to overcome sin and temptation through Jesus Christ. It is the only way to be reconciled to God. It is living under God’s covenant of grace – not bound by the Law. It is freedom.
Live in the waterfall of grace! Continual cleansing and refreshing, life-giving living water that comes only from Father.
[taken from http://andrewejenkins.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/another-story-understanding-the-cleansing-power-of-grace]