Christian Living

The Reason for Confession

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
07/07/21
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"From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17)

Confession is a formal statement of wrongs done in the past, a certain measure of sorrow must be entered into the equation of confession, but for a lot of people that very wrong they have confessed they soon repeat. Perhaps they say inwardly or openly that’s the way I am and cannot help myself. I have come to believe that is an arrogant statement that demonstrates no desire to change. But I throw no fault at the person, as I think they have no conviction to support their confession. And those who are under strong conviction are in need of the power of the Holy Spirit to help them overcome their wrongs.

There are those who are willing to confess often, as they feel this is the right thing to do each day. After all, Jesus told Peter when he asked if he should forgive seven times for the same offense. "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:22) Seven times seventy may be taken literally or figuratively but the answer is how many times has Jesus forgiven you or me? The question has never been have we sinned, are we sinners, or if we will sin again. The question is have we really experienced a true conversion? Are we the same person as we were when we called upon the Lord? Have we grown in our spiritual maturity and conformation into the image of Jesus? Are we truly committed to our confession to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven?

Jesus began His public ministry reinforcing the message that His forerunner John the Baptist was preaching. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2) The Church is great on calling people to confess their sins, and the Bible teaches us to confess our sins to one another. "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16) This we should do, as our Lord is faithful to forgive us of our sins, which we will commit till the day we leave this world. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) But confession of sin without repentance is a poor commitment to the convictions that we profess.

How do we know we are sinning if we fail to listen to the Holy Spirit who guides us to all truth? (John16:13) Or are we just not listening or living in obedience to His Word? If we are not abiding in Jesus who can change from us from the wretch we are to the beautiful creature we were created to be? "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

I find myself often undone as Isaiah when he was at the throne of God in the Temple. (Isaiah 6:5) I believe there are six commands that we can follow that will strengthen our faith, strengthen our commitment that we can live by our convictions and walk in repentance. We are to 100% obey these first two if we are ever to leave first base. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37) In that love that God gives us we are to demonstrate towards everyone we meet. "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39) Jesus said of these two laws, "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:40)

We are to do all things for the glory of our God. (Ephesians 9:10) We are to give our service to Him cheerfully without complaint. (2 Corinthians 9:7) "Do all things without grumbling or disputing." (Philippians 2:14) We are not to let the influences of this world weigh us down in useless anxieties. Our Lord will lift our burdens if we ask Him. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7) As God shows His grace towards us let us show that same grace towards others. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

When I fail in these areas if feel a great conviction because if am not living in the image of my Creator, I am not living in the image of my Lord Jesus. People who know me, the ones who know what I do throw out that great word hypocrite. That is bothersome as my testimony has been destroyed and it is worse because I have brought dishonor to God. Before I confess I repent because this is the message of Jesus, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

When He lifted me I was broken. When I was broken He restored me. Now again I have let sinful behavior break me again. I have broken a trust, I have broken my word, and I have broken my relationship with Him by the feeling of guilt that has come between us. The Apostle Paul gives us this advice. "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." Colossians 3:5) "For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)

Like I do you find yourself repeatedly confessing the same sin. I am embarrassed to include “I” in that sentence. I have come to think the maybe I have put the cart before the horse. I confess and then try to repent. But Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He didn’t say confess and then try to repent. Confession is confirming in agreement to a proposition. In this case it is the gospel plan of God for our salvation. We confess or sins in agreement that we have disobeyed God. But if we are not first convicted of that then how will are we to repent. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." (John 16:8)

We are convicted by the Holy Spirit, we see the need for repentance, to turn from the way of the world and turn to the way of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit begins His sanctification work in us and through us the world can see the light of Jesus. But for all this to happen we need to have genuine repentance.

Repentance is a heartfelt sorrow, some call it a Godly sorrow towards our sinful behavior. Without true sorrow for the way we were then we might lack the motivation to follow the Spirit of Christ and abide in Hs Word. Without that heartfelt sorrow leading to true repentance we will have a motivation deficient towards sanctification. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts and it is the Holy Spirit that we are led by to overcome our fleshly desires. "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) By repentance we are forsaking our desires for the false treasures of this world. "Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)

Let us not realize the seriousness of sin in our life. Simply stated sin comes between us and our God. God is longsuffering with us but there is a penalty for continued sin in our life. And the day will come that we will reap that penalty here for that which we have done. Worse for those who reject the free gift of God’s salvation they will reap what they have sown throughout all eternity. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, October 16, 2017