[Sam]

Early in my Christian life, I received teaching on a couple verses in the epistle of 1 John which apply to a Christian who sins. "If we say that 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." Those are verses 8 and 9 in the first chapter of that epistle. I had a problem because I didn't "feel" forgiven when I confessed any failure and/or sin. I was told that we walk by faith and not by feeling. God plainly promised in these verses that if we confess (admit) our sins then He would forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This promise is based on God's faithfulness. If we believe what He said, then once we admit our failure to Him, He not only forgives but He also cleanses us from it.