We have been discussing disciplines that are necessary for men who are pursuing a growing relationship with Jesus. As we continue this conversation, we come to a practice that is difficult for most men. We are challenged to a discipline of confession.
Proverbs 28:13 says, He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. This is our path of restoration with a holy God. Confession is defined as agreeing that we have offended God with a lifestyle choice and seeking forgiveness. It is an admission of sin. Confession is an important element of the salvation experience. Romans 10:9-10 states, That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
However, it’s important to understand that our need for confession does not end at the point of our salvation. Even after we accept the free gift God offers, we retain the potential for sin. Our sin does not eliminate our relationship with a loving heavenly Father, but it does put a strain on it. This is more from our perspective than his. Think about this, if you are in a relationship and you do something you realize has hurt the other person, you are likely to avoid that person while that offense stands between you. If you do interact, it will often be just surface conversations and your intimacy is harmed until you make up. Confession is a process by which you can “make up” with God.
Spiritual confession has two primary elements. The first is admitting to God and yourself that you were at fault; you have done something that has put a barrier in your relationship. The second part of this is know as repentance. While confession is admitting your sin, repentance is the commitment not to continue the sin. If you punch someone and say, “I’m sorry!” and then punch them again, your apology cannot be taken seriously. Repentance is the process of genuinely committing to yourself and God that you will not continue in the sinful act.
We’ve looked at our part in confession, so I would like us to consider what happens from God’s perspective. The best source of this discovery is in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. This is a guarantee. If we sincerely confess before God, he will not only forgive us, but will restore the strained relationship. Our sin is forgotten, and we can move on from there with freedom to enjoy a closeness once again with God.
There is another aspect of confession that often goes unmentioned and is seldom practiced. However, it is encouraged in James 5:16, 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. “Why in the world would I want to unload my sins to another person? God is the one who forgives so that should be enough.” The best argument for confessing to a trusted friend or spiritual leader is accountability. As we discussed above, we don’t only want to have the sin forgiven, but also want to assure we don’t fall back into it. Satan is subtle and loves to hit us while we are down. Like the boxer who focuses his blows on the cut of his opponent for maximum pain, Satan knows our vulnerabilities and will attack those. Bringing someone else into the process is a great way of building a defense. By confessing to another, you open the door to call on them for encouragement and distraction when the temptations intensify.
God wants us to live in joy which is hard to do if we have unconfessed sin in our lives. This is an opportunity to free ourselves to enjoy all God has for us.