Shielded By Promises

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

D.L. MOODY
Not some of them; He takes them all away. You may pile up your sins till they rise like a dark mountain and then multiply them by ten thousand for those you cannot think of; and after you have tried to enumerate all the sins you have ever committed, just let me bring one verse in, and that mountain will melt away: “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from ALL sin” (1 John 1:7).

ERWIN LUTZER
My father was 100-years-old when Satan brought to his mind the sins of his youth. My father said to my mother, “You know, Satan is just assaulting me about my past sin,” and he was going to again ask forgiveness for his sins, but my mother wisely said, “No you don’t. This is not a time to ask for forgiveness for sins. This is a time to praise God that your sins have been forgiven!”
That was indeed wise counsel. The devil uses guilt, even guilt for sins that have already been forgiven. And no victory is achieved by confessing and re-confessing past sins. We must affirm the promise that “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). We must receive both forgiveness and cleansing; in other words, our conscience must cease to condemn us.
So, with the shield of faith we ask, “Are we going to believe God’s promise or are we going to believe our feelings and circumstances?” The promise is that God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.

PRAYER
Father, even if I still see the consequences of my sin, may I rejoice in your forgiveness.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What promises of God are most comforting to you?

What is the difference between biblical confession and the repetitive re-confessing of sins that God has already declared cleansed?