Everyone believers and non believers sin.We can sin knowingly or unknowingly. Sins of omission and sins of commission are both referenced in the Bible and they are often discussed together. A sin of commission involves the wilful act of doing something that violates God’s commands in His Scripture ,For example,you can intentionally sin by telling a lie.You know it's a sin to lie, Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy. This is the easy one to confess because you know what you have done. A sin of omission involves not doing what is right or failing to do as instructed.For example refusing to share Christ with others, neglecting to help those in need and avoiding to pray are all examples of sins of omission.In the Bible, sins of omission are acts of disobedience just as serious as those committed. When God tells Christians to worship, speak, or act, and they refuse, they have disobeyed Him.It says in James 4:17 “therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”It is possible for a person to sin without knowing it, including a Christian. Sin is any offence against God, and even when we lack a full knowledge of what offends God or the self-awareness to recognise that our actions are offensive, nevertheless we are still acting in a way that offends Him.Leviticus 5:17 “Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment".
The word of God is clear in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Prayer is a time to talk to God about everything and that includes the wrong things we have done.Some people will say, "but God already knows everything so why should we tell Him when we have sinned?"We have to obey the Word of God and confess our sins. We are imperfect people who make mistakes and we do offend God.The answer is that divine forgiveness has two aspects. One is the judicial forgiveness God grants as Judge. It's the forgiveness God purchased for you by Christ's atonement for your sin. That kind of forgiveness frees you from any threat of eternal condemnation. It is the forgiveness of justification. Such pardon is immediately complete and you will never need to seek it again.The other is a parental forgiveness God grants as your Father. He is grieved when His children sin. The forgiveness of justification takes care of judicial guilt, but it does not nullify His fatherly displeasure over your sin. He chastens those whom He loves, for their good Hebrews 12:5-11.Remorse over sin, daily confession, and a continual attitude of repentance are marks of a healthy Christian life. What's the benefit? Look again at 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".Christians can sin in ways we don't fully appreciate, but our ignorance doesn't lessen our sin. We are supposed to remain forever in study of His word,prayer,fellowship and be under counsel of the Holy Spirit so that we better understand God's expectations and in-turn stop sinning.
Steps to asking God for Forgiveness
Confess Your Sins
1.Name and admit the thing you’ve done.
2.Tell God that you know what you did was wrong.
3.Say that you are sorry for what you did.
Asking for Forgiveness
1.Pray about what you’re feeling.
2.Use scripture in your prayer.
3.Ask God to forgive you for what you’ve done.
4.Tell God that you believe He has forgiven you.
Moving Forward
1.Seek forgiveness from people you hurt by what you did.
2.Repent of the wrong behaviour.
3.Work to keep from doing the same wrong thing again by praying,studying the word and help and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 51
A Prayer for Forgiveness
51 Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins! 2 Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!
3 I recognise my faults; I am always conscious of my sins. 4 I have sinned against you—only against you— and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me. 5 I have been evil from the day I was born; from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.
6 Sincerity and truth are what you require; fill my mind with your wisdom. 7 Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; and though you have crushed me and broken me, I will be happy once again. 9 Close your eyes to my sins and wipe out all my evil.
10 Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your holy spirit away from me. 12 Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach sinners your commands, and they will turn back to you.
14 Spare my life, O God, and save me,[b] and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness. 15 Help me to speak, Lord, and I will praise you.
16 You do not want sacrifices, or I would offer them; you are not pleased with burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.
18 O God, be kind to Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifices and with our burnt offerings; and bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.
Where will you go when the trumpet calls?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, please forgive me for every sin I have I have committed against You and against others.I offer up this forgiveness prayer Lord and humbly ask that You forgive me. I ask, God, that Your Precious Holy Spirit guides me in the future. I ask for the discerning ear and open heart to hear and feel what You are telling me to do. I pray & receive the understanding to remember this time.Lord give me the strength to repent and become a better person.Lord, thank You for every blessing and everything You do for me and my loved ones. I pray that You continue to pour Your Amazing grace upon us. In Your Powerful name I pray, Amen.
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