1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The confession spoken of in the passage above isn’t a mere acknowledgement that one has sinned. It is not merely feeling bad about our sins, nor is it the calling of sin by its right name. All of these are good, but they must be coupled together with a deliberate choice to do God’s revealed will.
In the Bible several examples of confession are given with nuances and twists that must be sorted out to be able to differentiate between the genuine, and the insincere. It is God’s will that all should come to repentance, meaning that after whatever is said and done through confession it should be translated into living in harmony with God.
Anything short of this will render confession a mere ritual that comes from a heart that is not yet willing to surrender to God, and wherever this is the case, a person will relapse into doing that which was done before, or even worse than previously.
Multiple attempts at erroneous confession renders the heart harder to reach the next time around, and it could reach a point where it could be very difficult to experience the end product, of living in harmony with God’s revealed will.
Again, there may still be hope for a person who may be caught red handed in sinning, and who, because of the particular circumstance, may be forced into a confession that may seem to be insincere. But such a situation does not necessarily render a person as being outside the reach of God’s grace.
The grace and mercy of God could still reach such a person, if at the end of the day, he, or she is willing to choose God’s will. It all comes down to the choice which, once deployed in favor of obeying God, will produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
In confessing our sins, the words might not always come out right, and in some rare instances, persons may not immediately feel sorrow for sin, for some may not yet know what sorrow for sin looks like, yet God can take any person from where they are, to where they ought to be.
Confession is not so much about us saying the right words, as it is the heart that is willing to choose the changes God is asking for. One might utter incorrect words, and may leave out what might seem to us as critically important, such as “I’m sorry” and yet that person’s confession could be genuine.
When you read the Bible closely, in most instances where confession was after the godly sort, persons didn’t say I’m sorry, because confession really goes beyond political correctness, since God looks at the heart, and not merely correct words that are spoken in perfect English.
In other words, at the end of the day, confession of the godly sort, which results in a change of course for the right, may not initially seem to fit in with the human version of what confession is supposed to be but God who reads the hearts and motives of all will have the last word.
Therefore, in order to understand what confession is we must study line upon line, precept upon precept, so as to avoid the many erroneous views about the issue of confession, which abound in our day. We will now take a few passages of scripture which deal with confession, and we will clear up some of the misconceptions, using the Bible as our guide. Let’s read:
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
This passage should never ever be interpreted to mean that we are to lay our personal weaknesses, faults, and sins before the brethren, if wrongs were not committed in the public square, or against any person in particular. The writer is speaking in the context of prayers for healing, in situations where sin in the individual has contributed to the illness. That is the context, but it has now morphed into very many strands which are neither recognized, or endorsed by God.
Shortcomings in persons do not necessarily have to be shared with friends, and family, especially if they are not directly affected. There is a huge difference between out breaking sin, where our sinful thoughts have matured into actions, and internal struggles of the mind, which God alone can see.
For instance, if a man is struggling with adulterous thoughts, as is quite often the case, it would be very imprudent for him to spell out his sin in great detail during family worship, in front of his wife, especially if he has been struggling with the sin over a number of years, as was the case with king David.
If you were to put yourself in the wife’s shoes, you could become weary of hearing that confession over and over again, and in some instances, it could lead the wife to question the husband’s Christianity, and his sincerity.
The question in the wife’s mind would obviously be “How long are you going to confess that sin or when are you going to gain the victory?” Some Christians believe that after a number of years have elapsed, a person who is in Christ should not be struggling with certain sins.
Now, while it is true that we all are to strive for the mastery by God’s grace the fact of the matter is that there are some sins that are more easily uprooted in some persons, than in others. In some cases, it can require a Herculean effort in striving against certain sins, and gaining the victory permanently.
The poor husband might be trying by God’s grace to tow the line, and like many Christians who might be struggling with this or that issue, he may have some good days and some bad days, but in his innermost soul, he may really be trying to do right.
We would not know, but one thing is certain; rather than have the wife all upset, and fretting while the prayer is being made it may be best for the husband to take his struggles to God, in the private audience chamber of the Most- High. In that way, he will be greatly helped by Jesus, who understands the severe struggle we face with latent tendencies, which strive for the mastery, and at the same time he could preserve both his, and his wife’s sanity.
Furthermore, it might not be expedient to expose your faults to other persons, who may not help you with overcoming. Especially is this the case with the confessional, where unwitting persons are known to spill the beans to some members of the clergy, who themselves may have their own skeletons hiding in some closet.
As a general rule of thumb, if the sin in question is private, meaning that it was a transgression in the mind alone, the confession should in most cases, be to God alone. We are not commanded anywhere in the Scriptures to confess sins of the mind to other erring mortals.
Another passage in the Scriptures pertaining to the issue of confession, is that of acknowledging our sin, or calling it by its right name. As was stated before, there are times when, if one is in the public square, it might be best to be vague in confessing your sins, if the sins in question were not committed against another, or a number of people.
The tenor of the Bible is to keep the sins of saints as quiet as possible, hidden from public view wherever possible. Every sin you read of in the Bible, where a child of God has been exposed, it’s because the sins were either done in public, or they were done to the public, some more, some less, without exception.
This is the reason why Christians are cautioned in the Bible not to take wrongs between themselves to the public courts, where the name of Christ will be dragged in the mud. Wherever possible, let privacy be your watchword, so as not to give satan, and his minions occasion to blaspheme the name of Christ. In fact, the Christian must be prepared to suffer loss, if doing so will keep the errors of the saints from public view. Let’s read:
James 5: 19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Matthew 18: 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
However, when damage has been done to others in the public square, confession in front of all who are concerned will be required. This is because the God of heaven must be vindicated as being just and fair, without bias or favoritism. For instance, when Achan caused thirty-six men to be slain, because of the items he stole from Jericho, he would need to confess the specifics, in the midst of the congregation, since other persons adversely suffered as a result.
Again, Jesus asked for a public confession in front of the other disciples from Peter, because his swearing in the court, in front of everybody, had done serious damage to the cause of Christ as well as to the body of believers. In that instance he greatly embarrassed Jesus in the public square, hence the reason why Christ did not pull him aside privately, by himself, to confess.
In fact, Peter’s public denial of Christ had occurred three times, and therefore, Jesus asked for Peter to confess no less than three times, one confession for each incident that had brought dishonor to God. If a Christian has dishonored Jesus in a public square where the name of Christ was greatly disgraced on numerous occasions, the confession of sins must be made multiple times, before the church. Let’s read:
Matthew 26: 69 Now Peter sat outside in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, you also were with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by and said to Peter, surely you also are one of them for thy speech betrays you.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
John 21: 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
A critically important point to note in this episode is that Peter’s confession was never solicited in front of the general public, before whom the denials took place. Christians should be very careful not to wash their dirty laundry in public, for this just adds salt to the wounds already made.
If no hurt, damage, or injustice was done to persons in the public domain, confessions are best left to be handled amongst our brethren, for God desires that the least amount of publicity be given to the errors, and sins of His people, wherever warranted.
This is the reason why you’ll never read in the Bible of any specific sins that Daniel did, although he too had sins to confess. His record in the public square was beyond reproach, and therefore his specific sins remain sealed between himself, and God, for they are not anyone else’s business. Let’s read:
Daniel 9: 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God….
Again, when folks acknowledge sins, that is just one step in the right direction, which ultimately should lead us to choose to do God’s will. Acknowledgment in and of itself doesn’t necessarily constitute a godly confession. It’s a first step, but not the end product. Let’s read:
Jeremiah 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.
This brings us to our case study in which pharaoh is documented as having confessed his sins, which he did. As we study the references we will discover that pharaoh said all the right words, including the direct acknowledgement of his sins, and yet, for all of this, the end product doing God’s will was absent.
In his confessions, he admits that God is righteous, and that pharaoh is wicked, and he goes so far as to call sin by its right name. But some way, somehow, he simply refuses to do God’s revealed will by letting the people go.
This is a critically important point, for God is not so interested in correct words, as He is in a heart that is willing to obey Him. If confessing one’s sin doesn’t result in doing God’s will with a willing heart, then it is false, regardless of if the confession contained all the correct words. Let’s read:
Exodus 9: 27 And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Not only did pharaoh confess his sin, he also asked for forgiveness, and in this some may say that he did better than Judas, for at least, he saw his dire need of pardon. But yet, it did not pan out because it came from an insincere heart. In fact, when you dig a little deeper, you will discover the real reason for his confessions. It was sorrow for the result of his sin, not sorrow for rebelling against God. Let’s read:
Exodus 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you.
17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
After the plague was removed, pharaoh went right back to his former rebellion, and he dug in his heels even further by threatening Moses with death if he dared to see his face again.
Thus, the words might have been correct, but the heart was not right with God, and therefore the end product of willing obedience became elusive. It has to be pointed out, that with every confession of the king, and his corresponding relapse, it became more and more difficult for him to repent.
This continued for a while, until God was speaking but he wasn’t listening for he had hardened his own heart by a firm decision, never to do God’s will, by letting the people go. It is never a good thing for a person to confess sin, without any intention to do God’s will, for this negates our first passage. Let’s read:
1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In fact, God’s main purpose in giving the Holy Ghost is not merely to speak in tongues or to heal us from diseases; it is primarily to empower us to obey God from a willing mind. Speaking in tongues is just one of the by products that came as a result of the gift of The Spirit, but it’s never the main one. Let’s read:
Acts 5: 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Romans 8: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The main issue pertaining to God’s revealed will, in contemporary Christianity today, has to do with the keeping of the holy Sabbath and the efforts to annul of His law. This is the issue brought into focus as it is in Revelation chapters 13 and 14.
It's not merely believing in Jesus, for most persons in Christendom have already believed, and it’s not the lack of good works, for this too has abounded within Christian circles, and beyond. Like as it was with pharaoh, the will of God is made both simple and specific.
He is calling all those who have taken on the mantle of Christ to put believing into practice and obey Him by keeping all of God’s commandments. Remember, that with pharaoh God’s will was made simple, and very streamlined: “Let My People Go”. In our day God’s will is just as plain and simple: “If You Love Me Keep My Commandments”
Thus, confession in our day will of necessity include a willingness to do God’s will, for after all the praises and good works, and after all of the confessions via speaking correct words, the end product should be obedience from a willing heart. Let’s read:
Revelation 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
[The Great controversy pp 604- 607] Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” [Revelation 13:16.] shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath.
The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve him not.
The keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receives the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.
Therefore, let all who are sincere-hearted follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who Himself kept all of God’s commandments, and let those who kept Sunday in ignorance, be enlightened by the revelation of God’s will.
These are times for decisions, and commensurate action on the part of all who hear these words, for it is God’s will, that as many as would be saved, be in the know, so that they can worship God in spirit and in truth. In harmony with this statement, we’ll end our study with two passages of scripture that will encourage all of us to be faithful to God, to truth, and to duty. Let’s read:
John 15: 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
God Bless!