Confession plays an important part in the life of every person God has created because we are sinful by nature only redeemed by God’s grace. Due to its relevance, God allows us to confess anytime and anywhere without limitation whatsoever. We must however make it from a sincere heart. There are no specific locations where confessions can or must be made.
Confession is a heart-to-heart talk with Jesus Christ on a personal basis. Since we do not know our length of days and time left in this mortal life, we must endeavor to make regular confessions to God for our sins and for our acknowledgement of Christ Jesus before our home call. What do we hope to achieve with our confession?
We confess for God’s restoration
Leviticus 26:40-42 say but if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery which they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, and if their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends of their iniquity, then I will remember the land. Through confession, God hears our prayer and becomes gracious unto us regarding all his good promises to us.
Confession is not limited to any particular sin but to all sins disobedience to God. Numbers 5: 6-7 say when a man or woman commits any of the sins that men commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person is guilty, he shall confess his sin which he has committed; and he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it, and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
Zaccheus in trying to fulfill this scripture said in Luke 19:8, half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold. Confession thus requires restitution. However in our situation and in our stead, Jesus Christ has paid for us on the cross till eternity once and for all. With Jesus Christ, confession has been made easy without any cost.
We confess for God’s divine favour
2 Chronicles 7:14 says if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Confession shows humility and God hears us when we confess our sins or iniquities and upon repentance.
Ezra 10: 11 says now then make confession to the Lord the God of your fathers, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. Separation from the world requires confession of past deeds. David said in Psalms 38: 18 I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin. Whenever we acknowledge that we have fallen short of God’s glory, we must immediately confess for pardon from God through Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 28: 13 says he who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. This means confession must be made with a changed character before it becomes complete. Then we can prosper in Christ Jesus upon confession. James 5: 16 says confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.
We confess to one another for prayer support and as children of God we must not gossip and vilify one another because of one’s confession because we are one body. The strong must always bear up the weaker ones in prayer. When we confess, we become healed in both the body and soul.
We confess to have divine relationship
1 John 2: 23 says no one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. In confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we reconnect with God by establishing a worthy relationship with the Father. We all need a worthy relationship with the Father and we can achieve the same through acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord.
Thomas the disciple doubted Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. However when Jesus appeared to him and showed him the prints of his nail wounds Thomas confessed in John 20: 28, my Lord and my God. That confession restored his relationship with Jesus Christ. On the Damascus road for the first time, Saul (Paul) confessed to Jesus in Acts 9: 5 as Lord.
It was a confession of truth that enabled Paul to be redeemed and restored. It is not too late for us to confess Jesus Christ for the first time to the world as Saul (Paul) did. The joy of salvation lies in true confession which restores our broken relationship with Christ. There is nothing shameful about seeking the joy of salvation.
It is a way of appreciating God
Simon Peter the apostle confessed in Matthew 16: 16, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Centurion who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus confessed in Matthew 27: 54, truly, this was the Son of God. John the apostle confessed in John 1: 34, I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.
As children of God, what is our confession about Christ Jesus on our lips and in our hearts? If we need God’s presence to abide with us, we must appreciate Jesus Christ as he is. Rather than appreciating Jesus, we appreciate false spirits because we are spiritually blind. Matthew 15: 14; Luke 6: 39 can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
In John 9: 25 when the blind man at the pool of Siloam was asked who healed him or how he was healed, he replied whether he (Jesus) is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see. He did not succumb to persuasion of falsehood and woke testimony but the truth with boldness. With boldness he asked them, do you also want to be his disciples?
We must each answer this question: do we want to be disciples of Jesus Christ? Do we have that boldness to confess the truth about Jesus? Who is leading us in life’s journey today? We pray to the Lord to grant us his eternal grace to confess our sins, and Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour in all our ways.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in our utterances, thoughts and works. We regret our disobedience to your will and desires. We invite you to cleanse us in your precious blood. Please come into our hearts and lead us unto righteousness in your holy name, Amen!!
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