CONFESS YOUR SIN

CONFESS YOUR SIN!

I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. —Psalm 38:18

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. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us. —I John 1:8-10

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. —James 5:16

            Have you confessed your sin?  Did you talk to Him about trespassing His will?  Are you sorry for your sin?

            Sometimes when I am around certain groups of people, especially leadership groups, I feel like everybody else has got it together and only I don’t.  Are these followers of Jesus completely perfect?  The way many believers portray themselves is that they never fail and sin.  I know this is not the case, but as followers of Jesus we are told to confess our “sins to each other and pray for each other.”  Now let me ask, “When was the last time you confessed your sin to another believer?”  Or, “When was the last time another believer confessed their sin to you?”  When we do not do this we miss out on another believer praying specifically for our need!

            John included himself in these statements—

• “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. 

• “If WE say WE have not sinned, WE make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in US.

This John, this Apostle of Love, saw himself in need of confessing his sin and through the Holy Spirit wrote to encourage us to do the same.  Confession brings cleansing and a confidence to continue walking with Christ.  On the other hand, those who claim they have not sinned are calling God a liar!  A person like this can be in God’s Word, be speaking God’s Word but His Word is not really in them.  It is all superficial.  They are in self-deception.  Wow!  What a dangerous place to be in!  All because of not confessing sin, of not agreeing with God about trespassing His will.

Let us not portray ourselves as followers that have it all together.  It is interesting that God included the failures of many saints in the past, those counted righteous, “For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).  These included the failings and sin of Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the Judges, King David, Jonah…  Take courage!  The enduring truth of God’s Word instructs us if we will heed to the instruction and we can have hope.  God worked greatly through those of the past who failed as they acknowledge their sin and confessed it.  May we be like them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPw46ZmkbFE

Dear Father, thank You for forgiveness.  Without forgiveness I would have no hope at all.  In gratitude may I live faithfully for You, being and doing what You desire in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.