Scripture Reading: Psalms 32:1-5
The Confession of Sins
Intro.
1. Confess (HOMOLOGEO) - “lit., to speak the same thing, to assent, accord, agree with.”
a. To declare or admit, whether one’s faith in Christ (Matt. 10:32), one’s praise to God (Heb. 13:15), one’s devoted life to Christ (Heb. 4:14) or one’s personal sins (1 Jno. 1:9).
b. One is declaring his agreement with God’s standard of truth.
2. Sins MUST be confessed to God in order to be forgiven, 1 Jno. 1:9.
a. David (2 Sam. 12:13; Psa. 32:5).
b. Those who came for John’s baptism (Matt. 3:6).
c. Prodigal (Lk. 15:17-21).
d. Simon (Acts 8:22-24).
e. Ephesians (Acts 19:18-19).
3. Goal of confession of sins: Forgiveness of God and those affected by our sin, Psa. 51:1-4.
4. The courage and conviction of faith to confess sins reaps eternal blessings.
I. TO WHOM DO WE CONFESS OUR SINS?
A. To God, 1 Jno. 1:9; Psa. 51:3-4.
1. Sin is against God - Admit our sin to Him; Psa. 32:3-5.
2. Pray the Lord for mercy, Acts 8:24.
B. To the One(s) We have Sinned Against, Jas. 5:16.
-To reconcile, Matt. 18:15 (5:24).
C. To those who Know about our Sin, Jas. 5:16; 2 Cor. 2:5-8.
1. Jas. 5:16 does not command public confession of private sin.
2. To the extent the sin is known, one’s confession of it should also be made known (Jas. 5:16).
a. Private sin is confessed and resolved privately, Matt. 18:15.
b. Prodigal admitted his sin to his father, Lk. 15:17-18.
c. Simon’s confession was to those aware of his sin, and he asked for their prayers for him, Acts 8:22-24.
3. The Christian’s sin that is publicly known has a public impact (2 Cor. 2:5), and needs a public confession and repudiation, Gal. 2:14 (1 Tim. 5:20).
II. THINGS REQUIRED FOR CONFESSING SIN.
A. Godly Sorrow over Sin (proper heart), Lk. 18:13; Psa. 38:18.
B. Acknowledging the Sin, Psa. 32:5. (To God, then others)
C. Forsaking the Sin, Prov. 28:13-14. (The effect of reverence)
1. Trying to cover sin shows we do not yet hate our sin.
2. Sin deforms our character and damns our soul; forsaking it is the practical result of confessing it.
D. Repentance Results, Matt. 3:2, 6. (Fleeing the wrath to come, 3:7)
E. Faith in God’s Promise to Forgive Us when we Confess, 1 Jno.1:9
III. WHAT KEEPS US FROM PUBLICLY CONFESSING OUR SINS?
A. Pride / Embarrassment, Prov. 16:18; Jas. 4:6-10.
B. Thinking “No Harm, No Foul”. But, sin harms all it touches (David).
C. “I’m Doing what’s Right Now, so what does it Matter?” Jas. 4:17
IV. GUIDEPOSTS FOR THE PUBLIC CONFESSION OF SINS.
A. Sin that is Publicly Known needs to be Publicly Confessed in Order to Acknowledge Sin and Communicate Repentance (Ezra 9; 10:1-2).
-To seek the forgiveness of those our sin has affected.
B. Public Confession of Sin Should be as Specific as is the Knowledge of the Sin (no more and no less).
-When sin is publicly known, a non-descript confession is insufficient, cf. Lk. 3:10-14.
C. Purposes of the Public Confession of Sins:
1. To obtain the prayers of the righteous (Jas.
5:16; cf. Acts 8:24).
2. To reclaim one’s influence for righteousness,
2 Cor. 7:11 (1
Pet. 2:11-12; Matt. 5:14). Restores one’s honor before men.
a. Sin destroys our credibility and cripples our influence.
b. The ceasing of sin does not necessarily imply repentance.
c. May be other reasons (fear of getting caught, consequences…)
3. To be restored to faithful service in the local church.
a. Only way a church can restore the erring brother to useful service in the church is with his cooperation, and that requires repentance of sins.
b. Confession of sins informs the church of the change.
4. Question: What about sin in a different place long ago? If public knowledge exists, then notify of the repentance (cf. Saul).
Conclusion
1. Without confession of sins we cannot obtain mercy; we will not be saved.
2. Confession of sins must be to God and then to men to whatever degree our sin is known (1 Jno. 1:9; Jas. 5:16).
3. Declaration that we admit and abandon the sin in our lives, thus turning back to God.
4. Will be accepted by God and by faithful Christians: Live with the assurance of your forgiveness.