The Spiritual Discipline of Confession

By Pastor Chad

Confession and repentance are important! If one doesn’t confess and repent of his or her sins, one cannot be forgiven. If one isn’t forgiven, one cannot experience freedom in Christ. If one is not forgiven, one is still under the condemnation of God. 

The enemy will distract and obfuscate such a reality. The enemy doesn’t want you or anyone to acknowledge sin. The enemy does not want you to experience the joy that comes with the spiritual discipline of confession. Of all the spiritual disciplines, confession is one of the most life-giving. Confession is a spiritual discipline that bear one's soul before the Lord. It has been said by others that the church is a fellowship of saints, but it is equally a fellowship of sinners–justified sinners, but sinners nonetheless. The reason confession is so meaningful to a Christian, is because a Christian understands his or her need for renewal. And confession is just the discipline to provide a cleansing of the soul. A way of making ourselves vulnerable before God so that He might wash us anew by His infinite grace.

On Sunday morning, we highlighted three important characteristics of confession. Confession is an acknowledgement of who God is, that I have wronged God, and that I am in need of forgiveness. Let’s look at each one of these characteristics. 

First, confession is an acknowledgement of who God is. While standing before God in Numbers 14:17-19, Moses begins his confession to the Lord by recognizing and declaring who God is. You will never understand the severity of your sin until you understand something of the magnitude of God’s holiness. Our judgment by God doesn’t come based upon the lives of other human beings, but based upon the Majesty of God. Acknowledgement may not be verbal, but it is certainly an assent of the heart. Moses not only acknowledges who God is, but he acknowledges who man is in relation to God. 

Next, confession is an acknowledgement that one has wronged God. Moses continues his appeal to God: “Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love…” (v. 19). Moses doesn’t make excuses for the people. Moses doesn’t blame the people’s sin on someone else. Moses doesn’t minimize the sin of the people. Moses realizes who God is and acknowledges the sins of the people before a holy God. He openly and honestly tells the Lord. We too should be open and honest about our sins. God already knows our sin. There is no use trying to hide it. In fact, trying to hide it is impossible. Taking responsibility for one’s sin is an essential part of confession. Without such a step, one is not really confessing. 

Then last, confession is an acknowledgement and appeal for forgiveness. When we confess our sins and repent of them, God–because of His nature and character–is sure to forgive. The stipulation, however, is that one must seek forgiveness through the act of confession. God is ready and willing to forgive, are you willing to submit your heart before Him?