“If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].”
1 John 1:8-9 AMPC
Grace Perspective:
John, one of the disciples Jesus called to follow Him, reminds us that sin is deceitful. Everyone sins and falls short of God’s glory (See Romans 3:23), so we all need to confess that we’re sinners. John points out that we’re in trouble if we believe we don’t sin. When we make excuses for our sin, blame others for it, or pretend it isn’t really so bad, we are in a scary place.
The Gospel of Grace reassures us that God provides a solution to our problem with sin. It starts with confession, freely admitting that we fall short of God’s perfection. Hopefully, when we sin, the grace of conviction stirs our hearts to run to God so we can freely confess our sins and seek forgiveness. The next step is turning from sin, repenting, and believing that Christ’s death on the cross sufficiently paid the total penalty for sin. Confession is not a one-time occurrence; it’s an ongoing dialog with God as we live surrounded by temptations, tests, and trials. God promises to forgive our sin and thoroughly wash it away when we come with humble hearts confessing our need for His forgiveness.
Trusting that Christ Jesus is the Son of God who chose to pay the price for sin is at the core of the Gospel of Grace. He is the one we run to and confess our sins, for He is faithful and just to forgive our sins when we seek His gracious forgiveness.
A Touch of Grace:
What sin do you need to confess today?
How is God’s forgiveness of your sin reflected in how you live your life?
Grace Application:
Sin…we all sin. No one among us is perfect. You may say, well, duh, Dawn, I know that…but have you ever thought about the seriousness of sin? Sin is sneaky. Often we feel we aren’t as bad as someone else, judging ourselves by our own standards. God says that none of us can escape the pervasiveness of sin; it has infected all of us. (Read all of Romans 3)
Before we despair, hold fast to the truth the apostle John gives us in this passage. Yes, we all sin, but through Jesus Christ, we are redeemed. Christ Jesus provides a way for us to be delivered from the penalty of sin, eternal separation from God. It starts with confessing sin and understanding that we are helpless unless we believe that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.
Our confession needs to be personal. We need to own our sin, not blame someone else for it. You know what I mean. If I say, well, I wouldn’t have sinned if so and so hadn’t said _______ or hadn’t done ________. Nope, we can’t blame someone else; we have to accept that we alone are to blame for our sin.
We need to be specific as we confess, not generalizing our sin, but naming it clearly. For example, as I was preparing to write this devotional, I remembered someone who offended me. So instead of letting it go, I said something hurtful. Ugh… I’m so tired of my tongue…I use it to hurt others far too often. So before I could even start typing, I had to confess my sinful attitude and words.
Confessing our sins is necessary if we want to remain close to God. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, sometimes gently, or if we’re stubborn, He may turn up the volume to get our attention. Whatever God uses to reveal our sins, we need to be quick to confess so that we don’t become calloused or hardhearted. When we steep in sin long enough, we are in danger of forgetting the high cost of forgiveness, the blood that Jesus shed so we can be cleansed from our sin.
Today, let’s take time to confess our sins, personally and specifically, knowing that God graciously forgives when we freely admit our sins and accept the merciful forgiveness from our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, I come today in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ, confessing (__________________), recognizing that my sin keeps me from being close to You. Please help me see the deceitfulness of sin and keep me from becoming deluded. Thank You for making a way for me to be forgiven of my sin by sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sin. Thank You for faithfully forgiving me, because of His sacrifice. Please help me quickly confess my sin, so I don’t become hardhearted. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness and keep my heart tender to You. Amen.