Confession

Holy Moments: The Holy Moment of Confession

Where Heaven Touches Earth

Encountering God's Grace Through Honest Confession

Introduction

Good morning! Today we begin a new series called "Holy Moments" – those sacred encounters where heaven touches earth in our everyday lives. Over the next four weeks, we'll explore four fundamental practices that create space for God to meet us in powerful ways: confession, baptism, communion, and worship.

Let me ask you something: When was the last time you experienced a truly holy moment? I'm talking about one of those times when you felt the unmistakable presence of God – when the ordinary became extraordinary, when heaven seemed to break through into your earthly experience.

Today we start with what might be the most difficult of these holy moments: confession. I know, I know – not exactly the most popular topic. We'd rather talk about God's love, His blessings, His plans for our future. But here's what I've discovered: confession isn't the enemy of joy – it's the gateway to it. It's in those vulnerable moments of honesty before God that we encounter His grace in the most profound ways.

Four important ways for you to embrace confession as a way of life with Jesus:

Turn with me to 1 John 1, verses 8 and 9. These verses will serve as our foundation this morning.

1. The Reality of Our Need

1 John 1:8 NIV

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Let's start with an uncomfortable truth: we all need forgiveness. Every single one of us. John doesn't say "if some of us claim to be without sin" or "if the really bad people claim to be without sin." He says "if WE claim to be without sin."

You know what's fascinating about this verse? John isn't writing to pagans or obvious sinners. He's writing to believers – people who love Jesus, people who gather for worship, people who know their Bibles. People just like us. And his message is clear: self-deception is one of our greatest spiritual dangers.

We live in a culture that tells us we're basically good people.

"I'm not perfect, but I'm a good person."

"I've never killed anyone or robbed a bank."

"I try to treat people well."

But God's standard isn't human comparison – it's divine perfection. As Isaiah reminds us, our righteousness is like filthy rags compared to God's holiness.

But here's where it gets even more challenging. John says that when we deny our need for forgiveness, "the truth is not in us." Think about that. Denial of sin doesn't just separate us from God – it separates us from reality itself. It separates us from authentic community because we can't have real relationships when we're living behind masks of false righteousness.

I remember a conversation I had with a man who'd been coming to church for years. He was struggling in his marriage, distant from his children, and increasingly isolated. When I gently suggested that some honest self-examination might help, he responded, "Pastor, I don't need to confess anything. I'm a good man. The problem is everyone else." That's exactly what John is talking about. When we can't acknowledge our own brokenness, we become blind to the very thing that could set us free.

The first step toward a holy moment of confession is radical honesty about who we really are. Not who we pretend to be, not who we wish we were, but who we actually are in our hearts when no one else is looking.

2. The Promise of Forgiveness

But John doesn't leave us there in our brokenness. Listen to verse 9:

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

This verse contains one of the most beautiful promises in all of Scripture. Notice it doesn't say God might forgive us, or that He'll forgive us if we grovel enough or do enough penance. It says He WILL forgive us. Why? Because He is faithful and just.

God's faithfulness means He keeps His promises. He has committed Himself to forgive everyone who comes to Him in genuine repentance. His justice doesn't work against us here – it works for us. Because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, God's justice is satisfied. He can forgive us without compromising His righteousness.

But notice something else in this verse – forgiveness is just the beginning. God doesn't just forgive us; He purifies us from all unrighteousness. This word "purify" means to cleanse completely, to make clean. It's the same word used for purifying gold – removing all the impurities until only pure gold remains.

When we confess our sins to God, we're not just getting a clean slate – we're being transformed. Confession becomes a holy moment because it's not just about dealing with the past; it's about opening ourselves up for God to create something new in us.

I think about the confidence this should give us as we approach God. Hebrews 4:16 tells us we can

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Not arrogance, but confidence. Confidence rooted in God's character, in His promises, in the finished work of Christ.

Too many of us approach confession like we're trying to sneak past an angry security guard. But God isn't waiting to condemn us – He's waiting to cleanse us. He's not looking for reasons to reject us – He's looking for opportunities to restore us.

3. The Power of Confession

To understand the transformative power of confession, let's look at one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture. Turn to Psalm 51, verses 10 through 12. These are the words of King David after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba:

Psalm 51:10–12 NIV

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Look at what David is asking for – and notice that it's all about transformation, not just forgiveness.

First, confession creates a clean heart.

David asks God to "create" a pure heart. This is the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1 – "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." David isn't asking for minor repairs; he's asking for divine recreation. When we truly confess our sins, we're inviting God to do the impossible – to create something entirely new within us.

Second, confession restores joy.

David says, "restore to me the joy of your salvation." Notice he doesn't say "give me joy" – he says "restore" it. Sin doesn't just separate us from God; it robs us of joy. But confession brings that joy flooding back. There's nothing quite like the joy that comes from knowing you're completely forgiven and fully loved.

It does not spoil your happiness to confess your sin. The unhappiness is in not making the confession.

Charles Spurgeon

Third, confession renews our spirit and relationship with God.

David asks for a "steadfast spirit" and pleads with God not to take His Holy Spirit away. Confession doesn't just clean up the past – it reopens the channels of communication between us and God. It removes the barriers that sin creates in our relationship with Him.

I've seen this happen countless times. People who've been carrying guilt and shame for years finally bring it into the light of God's grace, and they're transformed. Not just forgiven – transformed. Their whole countenance changes. Their relationships improve. Their joy returns.

That's the power of confession. It creates holy moments where heaven touches earth and God does what only God can do – make all things new.

4. The Practice of Confession

So how do we actually practice confession in a way that creates these holy moments? Let me suggest three dimensions of confession that we see throughout Scripture.

First, private confession to God.

This is the most fundamental form of confession – just you and God, in honest conversation about your heart. Jesus taught us to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Regular, private confession should be as natural as breathing for a follower of Christ.

Make it specific. Don't just say, "God, forgive me for being a sinner."

Name your sins.

"God, I was angry and spoke harshly to my spouse today."

"I was prideful in that meeting and tried to make myself look good at someone else's expense."

"I've been anxious and worried instead of trusting You."

“I have been thinking about someone sexually that isn’t my spouse.”

Specific confession leads to specific healing.

Second, confession within community.

James 5:16 NIV

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.

There's something powerful about bringing our struggles into the light of trusted Christian community. I'm not talking about public embarrassment or sharing inappropriate details. I'm talking about the kind of authentic relationships where we can say, "I'm struggling with this area of my life. Would you pray for me and help hold me accountable?"

When we confess to one another, we break the power of shame and isolation. We discover that we're not alone in our struggles. We experience God's grace not just in forgiveness, but in the loving support of brothers and sisters who refuse to let us carry our burdens alone.

Third, the humility modeled by the tax collector.

In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee prays, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people" – focused on everyone else's sins. But the tax collector "would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'" And Jesus says it was the tax collector who went home justified.

True confession requires humility – the humility to acknowledge that we don't have it all together, that we need grace just as much as anyone else. It's the humility to stop comparing ourselves to others and start comparing ourselves to Christ.

Application: Living in the Freedom of Confession

Let me close with

Three practical ways you can apply confession to your way of life with Jesus:

First, make confession a regular spiritual discipline.

Don't wait until you've committed some major sin. Make it part of your daily walk with God. At the end of each day, ask yourself: "Where did I fall short today? How did I fail to love God or love others?" Then bring those things honestly before God and receive His forgiveness.

Second, create space for corporate confession in our worship.

There's something powerful about confessing together as a community. It reminds us that we're all in need of grace. It creates space for God to work in our corporate life as a church.

Third, embrace the freedom that comes from living transparently before God.

Stop hiding.

Stop pretending.

Stop trying to manage your image.

God already knows everything about you, and He loves you completely. There's incredible freedom in living with nothing to hide.

Conclusion

Friends, confession isn't the enemy of the Christian life – it's the doorway to it. Every time we honestly acknowledge our sin and receive God's forgiveness, we create space for a holy moment where heaven touches earth.

Maybe you're here today carrying guilt or shame that you've never brought to God. Maybe you've been trying to clean yourself up before coming to Jesus, not realizing that's not how it works. Or maybe you're a longtime believer who's forgotten the power and freedom that comes from regular confession.

Whatever your situation, God is inviting you into a holy moment right now. He's not waiting to condemn you – He's waiting to cleanse you. He's not looking for perfection – He's looking for honesty.

Let's pray together:

"Heavenly Father, we come before You acknowledging our need for Your grace. We confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved You with our whole hearts, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us. Create in us clean hearts, restore to us the joy of our salvation, and help us to walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Moment of silent prayer for personal confession

Now hear this promise from 1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Your sins are forgiven. You are cleansed. You are loved. Go in peace, and live in the freedom of God's grace.