Cleaning Your Cast Iron Skillet

 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 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. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).

 

I’m not sure how old our cast iron skillet is. We received it as a “wedding gift” from Mary’s mom. I know she had used it for years prior to gifting it to us and we’ve been married for over fifty years. So, it’s old! But it’s still my skillet of choice when it comes to indoor stovetop cooking. Bacon and eggs cooked in it are the best. I rarely “clean” it since that’s how I was instructed decades ago. My understanding is that cleaning it can be tricky. In fact, instructions for cleaning a cast iron skillet often include a lot of don’ts: don’t use soap, don’t use steel wool, and don’t put it in the dishwasher.

 

Well, after I’ve taunted and tempted you with this picture and text, let me get to the point. We’re all a little like this cast iron skillet. We do need to be “cleaned” from our sins; however, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. Let me deal with the wrong way first. You cannot do enough good works or dispensations to be forgiven of your sins. Besides, since we sin daily and often, who really has time to do enough good works, say enough prayers, or perform as many dispensations to “balance the scales”? God’s justice requires more than we are capable of giving to atone for our sins.

 

So, the right way to clean your spiritual skillet, your soul, is to rely completely on the finished work of Jesus. John is so clear in our reading today: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (v. 9). There are a couple of things to note. The word “confess” simply means “agree” (v. 9a). The meaning is along the lines of ageing with the truth that we are indeed in need of forgiveness. Remember, this letter was written primarily to believers. Being born again begins the process, but it continues throughout our earthly lives. We also need to recognize that the source of forgiveness is the faithful and just nature of our heavenly Father (v. 9b). This act is the essence of faith. It is the dependence we exhibit when we recognize we can’t do anything for forgiveness and only He can do everything necessary.  Rejoice and acknowledge your sin receiving full forgiveness from Him!