Bold Confession

The Church has every reason to rejoice, especially as we prepare to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a way to encourage believers to take joy, I offer reasons why the Church should celebrate the redemption we have been given through our Lord.

Early in my walk with Christ, I was drawn to the writings of the apostle John. I found his writing style to be quite simple, but with a depth that challenged my young, regenerated heart. God used John to communicate His truth in a way that drew me to keep walking with Christ.

I still find a connection to the Biblical books that John authored. The truths remain understandable but profound. One of those profound truths can be discovered within the first chapter of John’s first epistle.

Writing to a group of believers, John instructs his audience to confess rather than cover up their sin (I John 1:8-10). This instruction, if we will follow it, provides tremendous comfort and security in our Lord Jesus. Believers have the assurance that no matter how badly they transgress against the Lord, they can find a restored relationship with God by admitting their sin. John’s instruction should encourage Christians to habitually run to the Savior, falling upon His grace, any time they sin.

With such an invitation to perpetual grace offered to God’s children, why do we often try to deny or hide our sin? I wish to submit my opinion. Believers hesitate to quickly confess sin because they do not fully understand the nature of Christ’s redemptive work. Specifically, Christians fail to realize that God’s wrath has been satisfied through Christ’s death on the cross.

The Lord Jesus, when He hung on the cross, cried out these words.
And about the ninth hour Jesus gave a loud cry, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why are you turned away from me?
Matthew 27:46

God turned away from His Son, Jesus. The Father abandoned the Son. The Lamb of God had to be forsaken because He took the wrath of God for sinners. The Lord suffered God’s wrath so that sinners can be free of God’s wrath.

A believer’s only Biblical response to sin in their own life is confession. Confession is the act of agreeing with what God says about sin. True confession includes a repentance (a changing of the mind) and a turning away from whatever sin has been committed.

Some might say that confession alone is too simple or easy; there must be more required of me when I sin. But, dear Christian, there is nothing more for you to do because Christ took God’s wrath for you. The justice of God has been satisfied. Anyone in Christ (anyone who has believed in Christ for salvation) now stands under the mercy of God. They are not under His wrath.

Believers can celebrate Christ’s redemptive work. A way to celebrate is to take your sin directly to the Father. Boldly confess your sin, even the most vile sins, to the Father through the blood of Christ. Be confident in the Lord’s death and resurrection to continually cleanse and forgive.