“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Confess: to admit or acknowledge one’s sins; to own up to one’s guilt.
Confession necessarily involves repentance of sins committed. It is having a godly sorrow over having sinned against God. By this broken and contrite spirit, the heart, mind and conscience is restored with God: “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11
The grounds upon which one is forgiven and cleansed is the propitiation power of the blood of Jesus, that has made the atonement for all sin: “He is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2). “…the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
As we confess ours sins, “he is faithful and just to forgive us ours sins” (1 John 1:9). He is faithful to His promise to forgive. He forgives due to His righteousness, for it would be unjust to punish sin a second time, since the penalty of the believers’ sins have already been paid for on Calvary’s cross.
Where there is true repentance and confession and forgiveness, there will also be cleansing. The same blood that has the atoning power, also has the cleansing power: “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). As Priest, He has atoned for the penalty of all sin; as an advocate, He restores the soul. Sin interrupts our communion with God; the advocate restores it. The ability of His power to do these things is guaranteed by the righteousness of His person and the value of His propitiation, and these are unchangeable.
Before Peter sinned, Christ prayed for him; when he sinned, He looked on him; and when he repented, He restored him–so effectively that Peter was able to strengthen his brother Apostles. When Christ forgave the woman taken in adultery in John 8:11 – “And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” The fruit of repentance, confession, forsaking, forgiveness, cleansing, is to NOT go out and continue to practice that same sin.
SHARING
