Today's reading:
Jeremiah 48, 49; Psalm 67; 1 John 1
S) "
9 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 (NASB)
O) In the verse immediately before this, and immediately after this, John uses the phrase, "If we say," similar to the way the verse above starts, "If we confess..." All three of these verses are very closely linked, but I highlighted only this verse, because it carries with it the clear instruction. In all three verses, the first thing to do, is to identify who "we" are, as John identifies them. He uses the word "we" throughout this first chapter, and it's even in the very first verse. He identifies that "we" are the ones who have heard, and seen, and touched Jesus (understanding that John identifies Jesus as the Word of God made flesh in John 1, or in this case, the Word of Life made manifest). Three times he says "we proclaim" or, "we announce" and all three times he says, "to you," and he says, "we write," The reason it is so important to see all of these instances, is that when we get down to vv.8-10, it makes it clear that the "we" he means is Christians! In fact, it could even be understood, that the "we" he means, is actually the apostles themselves! So, it's understood to be a much more powerful statement in v.8 and 10, seeing that the apostles still have sinned in their past, and had sin as a present struggle or affliction, if we can call it that. The reason it's so important, is because in the middle of those verses, John says, "If we confess," and he means Christians, the disciples of Jesus, even the apostles themselves. We must understand what confess means, too. To confess really means, to tell it like it really is. Specific to our submission to God, to confess is to plainly describe something like God would describe it. "Con-" meaning "with or like" and "-fess" meaning tell. So, we are telling it like or with someone, and that someone is God, who knows and speaks and reveals all truth. Now, John uses a present tense form of that verb. He does not say, "Since we confessed," as if it was a one-and-done occurrence. He means that it is something Christians still do, even after they have heard, and seen, and touched Jesus, and believed on Him, and wrote to the churches planted all around the known world. They had sinned, and they have sin, and if they confess their sins, the rest of the promise comes to pass. Confession is not meant to be a one time occurrence, but a lifestyle of truth-telling, and in this case, about our sins. The reality is that sin persists in the life of a believer, even after they have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Even after they have planted churches and pastured thousands of Christians. But, the beauty is that Jesus died once for all. He was raised and sits at the right hand of the Father, and still makes intercession on our behalf. That is why God is righteous (or justified, or just) to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. It is because our debt has been paid, and Jesus was the propitiation, the atonement, the ransom for our sins.
A) Confession is hard. How's that for confession? I confess that it's hard to confess. It shouldn't be, but it is. Setting aside all of the lies and fears that come with confession to other people (see James 5:16), at times it's difficult to confess my sins to God, to vocalize, acknowledge, and look at my mistakes. It's hard to admit that I still need the mercy of Christ. The blood of Jesus is still something I need to cleanse me. Part of it, I think, is because I want to be perfect. I want to be mature enough to not fall for the same temptations I have in the past. I want to be disciplined enough to do the right thing every time. There's a part of me that feels like I should have arrived by now. But the reality is, I won't arrive until I'm dead. I won't arrive until the glory of Christ is manifested in my resurrection with Him. But, after I've sinned with something I really hate, the lie comes. The lie is usually something like, "I know what I did, and God knows what I did, and I'm sorry, and He knows it. So, why do we need to talk about it?" (we, meaning me and God). The reality is, confessing to God brings cleansing and justification before Him. The truth is, when I confess to Him, and He cleanses me, it's more than just a legal justification, it's a restored relationship. When I've sinned, I feel the separation from Him. I can sense the wedge between us, the wedge of my actions, and I begin to miss Him of that separation persists. When I confess and He cleanses, He brings me back into His fold. I usually cry, and I grieve my mistakes, and then He comforts me. The more I remember His grace, His promise of mercy, His character as my compassionate Father God, who is full of lovingkindness, the quicker I'll confess my sins, to be drawn close to Him again. I don't confess because I "have to confess," but genuinely because I get to confess. I am blessed to lay it bare before Him, and allow Him to mend my brokenness again.
P) Father, thank You for the dependable, unchanging character You have. Thank You for the lovingkindness and compassion You keep for Your children. Thank You for restoring me, even today, when I confess my sins and You forgive me. Let me be quicker the next time; we both know there will be a next time. I want to spend as little time apart from You, as I can ever manage. Let me be quick to repent and confess, and remember the sweetness of Your forgiveness and comfort. Thank You for being such a good Father to me, so undeserving that I am. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Be glorified in me, that I would honor Yoyr name with a life of repentance and confession. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
