Day by Day with Martin Luther

Read: Numbers 10:1-1:23 Mark 14:1-21 Proverbs 11:1-3

“None are Righteous”

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

It is in this that we are saved, therefore, that having sin and living in sin we grieve, because we have it and cry to God for deliverance, in accord with John’s saying “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” [1st John 1:8-9] In this way, yes, in this way, “the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” [Psalm 51:17]. Solomon told us, “for there is no man who does not sin” [1st Kings 8:46]. And Moses in Exodus 34:7 says: “before whom no man of himself is innocent,” And so what should we do? We should do as our Lord exhorts us in His prayer: we should pray, “forgive us our debts, …” [Matthew 6:12]