Confession is the utterance or statement of fact made to God, admitting our errors, guilt or wrongs based upon which God forgives or pardons us by faith in truth. In confession, we voluntarily agree with or covenant with God about our sinful state, take responsibility for our misdeeds, and upon that seek God’s restoration or reconciliation unto himself by repentance through Christ Jesus. John 1: 20
Confession is a biblical command. Leviticus 5: 5 says, when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters (contrary to God’s commands), they must confess in what way they have sinned. Leviticus 26: 40-42 says, “But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors– their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me… I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. Confession is thus an admission of sins which results in God’s forgiveness.
Before Christ Jesus, confession was through the blood of an animal with rituals as stated in Leviticus 16: 21-34. Upon the coming of Christ Jesus, his death on the cross placated the need for an animal for the ritual. 2Corinthians 5: 21 says, God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus also became the high priest to perform the ritual and performed it once and for all in Hebrews 4: 14-15. True confession is through only Christ Jesus which deed interprets as a spiritual vow not to return to confessed and forgiven sin again. True confession requires:
Belief that Christ Jesus has paid for our debts
In the old testament, confession demanded thus, in Numbers 5: 7, they must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. The priests were involved in the assessment. However, Christ died to pay with his blood, once and for all, the sins for all generations. True confession requires the belief that for his death, we require no more sacrifice or ritual aside from his blood on the cross. 1Peter 1: 18-19 say, for you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
We must flee from the confessed sin.
2Timothy 2: 19 says, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness (sin).” God demands our clear separation from sin. 2Corinthians 6: 14 says, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? This is because 2Corinthians 5: 17 says, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2Timothy 2: 22 says, flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of pure heart.
We must have a renewed mind
Romans 8: 67 says, the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. We cannot confess yet remain governed by the flesh except in deceit. Therefore, Romans 8: 12 says, we have an obligation– but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
True confession must be public
True confession is made public with God’s guidance. Romans 10: 9 says, if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Jesus said in Mark 8: 38; Luke 9: 26 says, whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory of the Father and the holy angels. He said in Matthew 10: 32-33, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Paul confessed publicly in Romans 1: 16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. He wrote in 2Timothy 1: 8, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in the suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. Public confession may lead to suffering by which our faith is tested in Christ Jesus.
Can we confess to others?
We may confess to others who are unable to do so personally for justifiable reasons. In doing so, we must have their true agreement. Nehemiah prayed thus in Nehemiah 1: 6, I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. This was replicated in Christ Jesus for the weak and afflicted. Prophesying about Jesus, Isaiah 53: 12 said, for he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Why must we confess?
True confession receives God’s mercy and forgiveness. Proverbs 28: 13 says, whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces then finds mercy. 1John 1: 9 says, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. We are also saved by it for Romans 10: 9-10 say, if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and be saved.
It also brings relief to our souls for David said in Psalm 38: 18, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. True confession will bring us release in the spirit. As a pre-requisite, we are also received into baptism. Mark 1: 5 says, confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. It opens the door to healing. To those Jesus healed, he first forgave because their coming to Jesus showed enough confession and public declaration of Jesus’ Lordship. James 5: 16says, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. Have we confessed in truth to Christ Jesus?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we no more conceal our sins from you for you know them. We confess and renounce them to receive your mercy. We declare with your mouth that you are Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised you from the dead. Justify us by your mercy and make us anew. We pray in your Holy name, Amen!!
Send us your prayer request so we may join you in prayer
0 Comments