Untitled Sermon (10)

How would you feel about wearing the same clothes every day without washing them? Would you go to a party with the pants, the socks, the shirt, the underwear that you’d worn for a month? That you’d worked in, slept in? I suspect that you’d feel pretty grungy, and I won’t even think about the smell.What about your spiritual clothing? Every mistake, every wrong decision, each time we fall short of being the person God desires us to be leaves us spiritually soiled. Would we choose to enter His presence in this condition? Would we even be able to? This is why the prayer of confession is so important.1 John 1:9 NIV84If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The need for forgiveness

All have sinnedIsaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.David provides an example of sin and forgiveness. Psalm 51 is his prayer of confession and plea for forgiveness.Psalm 51:1–2 NIV84Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.Psalm 32 is his reflection on his condition before and after confessionPsalm 32:3–5 NIV84When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Relationship with God broken – our own guilt comes between us and God, separating us from Him.Max Lucado writes:Confession does for the soul what preparing the land does for the field. Before the farmer sows the seed, he works the acreage, removing the rocks and pulling the stumps. He knows that seed grows better if the land is prepared. Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our hearts. “There is a rock of greed over here, Father; I can’t budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? Its roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?” God’s seed grows better if the soil of the heart is cleared.

The basis for forgiveness

God’s love and compassionGod’s promiseGod’s faithfulnessJesus’ sacrifice

The means of forgiveness

Jesus’ death provides for forgiveness, but it is still up to each individual to receive it.Confession – acknowledge, agree with God’s judgment, seek forgivenessEach Christian, however, is responsible to acknowledge whatever God makes him aware of. Not just a general confession, be specific, name it.

The result of forgiveness

Forgive - Debt cancelledCleansed - Purified from unrighteousness, guilt removed like a set of soiled clothing. Replaced by a new garment, the righteousness of Christ.Restored relationshipJeremiah 31:34 NIV84No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

The opportunity for forgiveness

Any time and place Lord’s SupperA stone in your shoe, though almost invisible, will spoil a day’s journey. It is not a great rock to grind you to powder. It is only a little stone, but your foot will blister before you have walked many miles.How great the pain of a single unconfessed sin! The best thing you can do is to take off your shoe at once and remove the stone before you again put down your foot. So it is with every little sinPsalm 145:13 NIV84Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.​​​