There is a warm assurance from John’s epistle as in other portions of the Bible that we can obtain forgiveness when we sin. Specifically, John says the Blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins. For the carnally minded, this might be taken as a license to sin unabatedly. That would be presumptuous, and such people will have a rethink when you consider the aftermath of sin. Although sins are forgiven once they are confessed, they leave scars behind. Imagine for example that a believer sins a hundred times and turns round that same number of times to confess. Though his sins are forgiven, he is sure to have a hundred scars left behind. Too many scars spoil beauty. In the physical, hardly do you find people expose their scars to others to see. That same is true in spiritual parlance. If you see a supposed believer reveling in sinful escapades of the past, you need to question the root of that salvation.

The price you pay for the gospel is not to be ashamed of; it is your badge of honour and will serve the basis for your reward in heaven.

But there is a different kind of scars that can be worn as a badge of honour. That’s the kind our passage seems to be indicating. Apostle Paul spoke of having in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus. What exactly does that mean? Some might think he was referring to the hand or calling of the Lord upon him. This will be an imposed meaning or at best a secondary application. The marks referred to the sufferings he endured for the sake of the Lord and in the course of fulfilling his life calling. The price you pay for the gospel is not to be ashamed of; it is your badge of honour and will serve the basis for your reward in heaven.