Maybe the most familiar verses that deal with the forgiveness of sin are found in 1 John 1. Verses 8-10 say, “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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” The first step is to realize that we have sinned. God’s word tells us what is right and wrong. As we read and study and memorize and meditate on the Bible, we can understand how we have failed, how we have sinned. And once we have realized our sin, we can acknowledge it to God, confessing our sins. The good news is that when we confess our sins, acknowledging that we have done wrong, God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The consequences for our sins do not always disappear, but according to 1 John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”