Marriage: 6 Commitments-Lesson 7 "Coming Clean: Confession"

Housekeeping

-Zoolapalooza: Must buy tickets ahead of time

-Breakdown of walls after class

-Lotsa Firewood at my house…FREE

Prayer

Chapter 5 “Coming Clean: Confession”

Psalm 51 CSB

For the choir director. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had gone to Bathsheba. 1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. 10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God— God of my salvation— and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. 18 In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Thoughts??

Tripp asserts that “hopelessness is a way of seeing, not a state of being.” What do you think this statement means, and how does it apply to marriage? (page 78)

“No change takes place in a marriage that does not begin with confession.” (page 79)

James 5:13–16 CSB

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

The Grace of Confession

1. It is grace to know right from wrong

2. It is grace to understand the concept of indwelling sin

-”My greatest marital problem is me.”

3. It is grace to have a properly functioning conscience

-Homeless Guy Example

4. It is only grace that protects us from self-righteousness

1 John 1:5–10 CSB

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

5. It is grace to see ourselves with accuracy

6. It is grace to be willing to listen and consider criticism and rebuke

- “Inner Lawyer”

Healthy Relationships

-Humility of Approachability

-Courage of Loving Honesty

“When was the last time you and your spouse had a conversation that displayed these characteristics? How can you cultivate them?”

7. It is grace not to be paralyzed by regret

“Confession not only calls us to look at ourselves in the present, but it also calls us to access the past.”

8. It is grace to know that we can face our wrongs because Christ has carried our guilt and shame

“Confession should be seen as a wonderful gift that every marriage needs. It should be liberating. It should be freeing. It should not be seen as a moment of personal loss but as an opportunity for personal and relational gain. “ (page 86)

The Daily Habits of a Confession Lifestyle

Let’s review the nine daily habits of a confession lifestyle. Which one is most difficult for you?

We will be lovingly honest

We will be humble when exposed

We will not excuse

We will be quick to admit wrong

We will listen and examine

We will greet confession with encouragement

We will be patient, persevering, and gentle in the face of wrong

We will not return to the past

We will put our hope in Christ

In Closing

Next week we will continue and focus on forgiveness

Please read chapter 6 “Canceling Debts”

Also read Psalm 119:17-24; Galatians 6:7-9; Romans 12:9-21

Pray