May 3. How to ask for forgiveness. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

1 John 1.9. I recall hearing one of my professors in seminaries say that one of the best tests

of a person's theology was the effect it has on our prayers. This struck me as true

because of what was happening in my own life. Noel and I had just been married, and we were

making it our practice to pray together each evening. I noticed that during the biblical courses

which were shaping my theology,

most profoundly, my prayers were changing dramatically. Probably the most significant change

in those days was that I was learning to make my case before God on the ground of His glory, beginning with hallowed be thy name,

and ending with in Jesus' name, meant that the glory of God's name was the goal and the ground

of everything I prayed. And what a strength came into my life when I learned that praying for forgiveness

should be based not only on an appeal to God's mercy,

but also on an appeal to his justice

in crediting the worth of his son's obedience.

God is faithful and just and will forgive your sins.

1 John 1 9.

In the New Testament, the basis of all our forgiveness is revealed more clearly

than it was in the Old Testament.

But the basis, namely God's commitment to his name does not change.

Paul teaches that the death of Christ demonstrated God's righteousness in passing over sins

and vindicated God's justice in justifying the ungodly who bank on Jesus and not themselves.

Romans 3, 25 to 26.

In other words, Christ died once for all to clear the name of God in what looks like a gross

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