God tells all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30), and Jesus specifically said we must repent and believe (Mark 1:15), but where does confession fit in? The Apostle John wrote, \u201cIf we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness\u201d<\/em> (1 John 1:9), but if we confess our sins to God, then we must also confess Christ to others. In this way, Christ will not deny us before the Father. That\u2019s important because John writes, \u201cNo one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also\u201d<\/em> (1 John 2:23), so \u201cevery spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God\u201d<\/em> (1 John 4:2). This also means that \u201cevery spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God\u201d<\/em> (1 John 4:3), so we can say with authority, \u201cThe one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels\u201d<\/em> (Rev 3:5), meaning that \u201cWhoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God\u201d<\/em> (1 John 4:15). The beginning point is repentance and faith, for that is the very essence of the gospel that Jesus brought (Mark 1:15). He came to give His life as a ransom for the many who would trust in Him (Mark 10:45), and those same will confess Christ publically. If you are not saved, you might wonder, \u201cSaved from what?\u201d Sin, precisely. What is sin? It is the transgression of God\u2019s Law (1 John 3:4), but the Law also shows us what sin is (Rom 7:7). Ignorance of God\u2019s Law, just like human law, is no excuse. You may not believe it has a bearing on you, but what you believe doesn\u2019t change what is true. Of course, no one is saved by keeping the Law (Eph 2:8-9), but the saved person will strive to obey God, although like everyone else, they will not do it perfectly. We all fall infinitely short of God\u2019s glory. The Apostle Paul rightly said, \u201cNone is righteous, no, not one\u201d<\/em> (Rom3:10), which means, \u201cAll have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one\u201d<\/em> (Rom 3:12), and to remove all doubt about the sinful state of humanity, Paul again says, \u201call have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u201d<\/em> (Rom 3:23). \u201cAll\u201d means all, and there are no exceptions. That\u2019s why Paul writes, \u201cNo\u2026not even one!\u201d<\/em> Jesus alone was sinless.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve repented and put your trust in Christ, that means you\u2019ve confessed your sins to God. It also means you\u2019ve been forgiven. Now, the Spirit of God lives in you and when you sin, you should desire to repent of it immediately and confess it to God. To live day by day with unconfessed sin is to bring misery to the believer, because it grieves the Holy Spirit. To not continue to confess our sins to God would be like being married and never apologizing or admitting your sins or mistakes when you make them. It\u2019s not a matter of if, but when you make a mistake, but if you don\u2019t apologize and confess your faults in your marriage, it will surely strain your relationship. And it won\u2019t do your fellowship any good, that\u2019s for sure. Of course, you\u2019ll still have that relationship, but it won\u2019t be as loving. Everyone makes mistakes, so everyone should admit them. You\u2019re walking on thin ice if you think, \u201cSince I\u2019m married, I don\u2019t need to ask for his\/her forgiveness.\u201d I can tell you from experience that this doesn\u2019t work well in a marriage or a relationship or a friendship.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever worked at a job without ever admitting a mistake, I doubt you\u2019d have many friends there. Even in our personal relationships with family and our closest friends, it\u2019s good to confess our sins and faults. I don\u2019t mean every single sin, but James tells us, \u201cconfess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working\u201d<\/em> (James 5:16). I believe we can be healed of our various sins and addictions if we ask for the prayers of the saints. This may be why the very next thing James writes is, \u201cThe prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.\u201d<\/em> Working in whom? It is working in the ones for whom we are praying for. I have many I pray for in their battle to overcome pornography, and many have overcome this, but it wasn\u2019t my power or other\u2019s power that did this, but the power of God unleashed by the prayers of the saints. Step one for many of these men is \u201cto confess our sins and faults to others.\u201d<\/em> Step one is to \u201cpray for one another.\u201d<\/em> Some strongholds you cannot battle in isolation as easily as others. Prayer does have great power. I\u2019ve seen it working, but rarely in isolation.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/348\/2017\/10\/man-prayer.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAll Have Sinned<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Why Confess?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Confession and Healing<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Prayer of Repentance<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Psalm 51 may be the greatest prayer of repentance and confession in the Bible. In it, David admits his guilt before God and asks of God to \u201cblot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin\u201d<\/em> (Psalm 51:1c-2). He admitted that \u201cmy transgressions, and my sin is ever before me\u201d<\/em> (v 3), so David prays to God, \u201cPurge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow\u201d<\/em> (v 7). Not only did he ask God to \u201cCreate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me\u201d<\/em> (v 10), but he also asked God to \u201cRestore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit\u201d<\/em> (v 12). Confession is good for the soul, but it\u2019s also good for the mind too because you can have \u201cthe joy of your salvation<\/a>\u201d<\/em> returned after a cleansing. Nothing much feels better than a clean heart. That\u2019s why it\u2019s best to keep short accounts with God. We can confess it immediately and move on and try to avoid the same situation or place the next time. David wanted his joy back so he could \u201cteach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you\u201d (v 13b), saying, \u201cmy tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness\u201d<\/em> (v 14c).<\/p>\nConclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n