As I walked down the prison hallway I dreaded the coming encounter. I was headed to the Restrictive Housing Unit: the Unit reserved for those men whose behavior issues required them to have close supervision. These inmates constantly assaulted each other and staff.
I’d gotten the a call telling me that Mr. Jones (not his real name) was banging his head violently against the door and screaming out unrecognizable statements about not being forgiven. They asked for my help.
I could hear Jones’ screams as I approached the Housing Unit and buzzed Central Control for permission to go inside. The noise was unbelievable. All 84 inmates (not the real number) were yelling insults and abusive statements at Jones. I walked up to his cell door and yelled through the speaking tube, “Hey Jones, it’s Rev. Talk to me.” I stood off to the side and asked the officer to drop Jones’ door hatch, then sat down to the side of his door and made direct eye contact. I knew Jones had recently accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I also knew Jones accepted the fact he was adopted into God’s family. Jones knew he was going to heaven when he died because he was forgiven.
As we talked, it was apparent his torment came from struggling to accept God’s forgiveness. I understood exactly what he was thinking because at times I’ve also struggled with God’s forgiveness. I looked directly at Jones and said, “I’ve dealt with the same thing, so let me show you what God showed me.” I turned to Romans the seventh chapter and started with verse 14.
We looked at how Paul recognized he did the very thing he hated and that there was nothing good that dwelt in his flesh. Then we read verse one of chapter eight. I asked Jones what “condemnation” meant. He said it was like standing in front of a judge, being condemned and sent to prison. I asked him what the word “no” meant. His eyes got wide and his voice rose in excitement as the truth hit him. “The Big Judge ain’t gonna send me to prison because I’m a child of God, and I’m a part of His family. He’s gonna take care of me because I’m family!”
Then we turned to 1 John 1:8-9. Jones read, “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.” I told Jones that Jesus’ disciple, John, had written those verses. Then I told him to look at the word “we” in verse eight. I pointed out that by using the word “we,” John was including himself in what he wrote. That meant John acknowledged he sinned.
I asked Jones how Christians who sin can be forgiven. He read verse nine back to me. I asked him to define the word “all” in verse nine. His smile lit up his cell. “It’s everything man, its all of it!” With that, Jones came to a place of peace in understanding God’s forgiveness and grace because he was an adopted member of God’s family.
I need to make something extremely clear here. The prayer of forgiveness in 1 John 1:9 must made be from a broken and humble heart, one that is seeking reconciliation with Christ. This prayer is to come from ones inner essence and is a cry to restore a broken relationship with Christ.
If you are struggling with being forgiven of all the bad choices, dumb mistakes, and horrible actions of your past, why not bow your head and, from the deepest part of your being, ask forgiveness from the only one who can bring you true peace?
Doctor Chuck Glenn is the Chair of the Religion Study Committee for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. His educational history includes a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, and a Doctorate of Theology. He currently resides in Nebraska with his wife, daughter, and a small white fluffy dog named Oscar.