1 John 1:9 ESV

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

We Confess

(ESV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We have heard it so many times in these circles of prayers the importance stressed on, Confession. However I really wan us to consider what it means to really confess? What really is a confession and why do we need to confess? Is confession for God or is it for us? Next, what do we confess? Finally, what is the outcome of confession?

1. What does it mean to confess?

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The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:9

Naturally only God knows at any moment the full extent of a person’s unrighteousness. Each Christian, however, is responsible to acknowledge (the meaning of “confess,” homologōmen; cf. 2:23; 4:3) whatever the light makes him aware of, and when he does so, a complete and perfect cleansing is granted him. There is thus no need to agonize over sins of which one is unaware.

Prussian king Frederick the Great was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment." Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, "Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it." 

Today in the Word, December 4, 1992.

Two criminal on their respective cross hung side to side with Jesus. . The first criminal declared his innocence and equality with Christ: (ESV)

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Let us unpack this declaring by this criminal. He begins hi blasphemy, with the words, If you are the Christ, similar to Satan’s questioning of Jesus’s identity at the temptation in the wilderness, (ESV) 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Which is a direct challenge and attack on the identity of Christ. However, let’s focus on the second part of the accusation from the criminal “Save yourself and us”. Everyone can just declare that Jesus deserves and is worthy to be removed from the cross. Jesus lived an innocent and sinless life, in not only actions but also in thoughts. If anyone deserves to not be crucified that day, it was without any disagreement, Jesus Christ. For Jesus’ righteousness we get credit for according to and 5. However, stating that we deserve to be saved like Jesus from the cross is not only arrogant and an out right declaration of self-righteousness but also a declaration that like Satan, “that he deserves to be God and has no need of a Savior”. Remember Jesus went to the cross to save sinners from sin. If He came of the cross then we would not have a Savior but perish in our sins. Meaning we have no one to stand before God for us in the judgement, rather we declare we are holy enough to stand on own. Like the previous paragraph, the guilty continued in their guilt when they declare they are innocent, and have no need of a Saviour.

Confession, rather, is declaring ourself, guilty and in need of a saviour. Like the prisoner and the other criminal on the cross, we admit also "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment." We Confess, according to the Greek means, to admit (agree or acknowledge) to a punishable deed.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

We Confess, according to the Greek means, to admit (agree or acknowledge) to a punishable deed.

2. Why do we need to confess?

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Because we are all guilty.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(ESV) 12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

3. Is confession for God or for us?

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12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Pastor’s answer: Both

Confession means we are guilty and that we realize we need a Saviour. Because when we confess, we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is the act of Reconciliation to God. . Remember we can not enter the kingdom of God nor see the Kingdom of God, without Jesus.

4. What do we confess?

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We confess our specific sins and that we deserve to die.

Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment."

5. What is the outcome of confession?

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Grover Cleveland, Baby Daddy Problems

In 1884 Grover Cleveland was running against James G. Blaine for the presidency of the U.S. Blaine supporters discovered that Cleveland, who was a bachelor at the time, had fathered a son by Mrs. Maria Crofts Halpin, an attractive widow who had been on friendly terms with several politicians. Subsequently, Republicans tried to pin an immorality tag on Democrat Cleveland by distributing handbills showing an infant labeled "One more vote for Cleveland" and by having paraders chant, "Ma, Ma, where's my pa? Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha!" The move, however, backfired badly. Rather than deny the story, Cleveland decided to tell the truth and admit the intimacy. This candor helped defuse the issue, and Cleveland was elected president. 

1 John 1:9 ESV

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

When “We Confess”. Christ offers to us forgiveness and cleansing from our unrighteousness.

Please note that we will not always like escape the earthly consequences of our sins but rather we will have me peace to know that we are:

a. Forgiven and Free from our Sin

b. Cleanse

C. Have a New Life in Jesus Christ

d. Have A Heavenly Reward waiting for us.

Simply,

We Confess, because Jesus is Faithful to Forgive and Cleanse us.

Write your thoughts on this devotion:

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