If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive our sins.
—1 John 1:9
You have to admire King David, for when he was confronted with his sin he immediately confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
And you have to love God, for he immediately forgave: “The Lord has taken away your sin” (2 Sam. 12:13).
Denial of sin is self-deception—“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 Jn. 1:8).
But God delights in showing mercy and there isn’t a hairsbreadth between your confession and his forgiveness.
A good place to start is with David’s prayer …
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (Ps. 51:1-2).
When you ask for forgiveness,
God says “Done!”