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Part 1 of 4 "Forgiveness of sins" in the Autumn 2015 VISION Newsletter
In the international District Apostle Meeting in March of this year, Chief Apostle Schneider shared some thoughts concerning the forgiveness of sins and the importance it has in our spiritual lives. Here is the first main part of his teaching.
1. Preparing for the absolution moves us forward in the sanctification process
Before our sins can be forgiven, there are a few things we must do, and this process strengthens us spiritually. To be forgiven for our sins, we must first be aware of them. This requires an intense reflection and examination of ourselves. Set aside time for yourself before the time of absolution to recognize and reflect on your transgressions. Following the recognition of our sins is our confession to God. In the confession, we can show God we know what our sins are and that we feel guilt over them. The Chief Apostle said, “Confession is a great way to counteract false excuses that we invent ourselves.” After our confession, we can repent for what we have done and make a resolution to do and be better. Repentance might be seen as the last preparatory step to forgiveness of sins, but there is actually one more thing we are implored to do; this is to immediately start the reconciliation process with our neighbor. By doing this, we can show to God that we are committed to our resolution to better ourselves. These four steps, done in preparation for each divine service, help us move forward in our sanctification, developing us more and more to become like Christ.