Confession of our sin is a very important exercise. It should happen every day because we sin every day. But there is great confusion about real confession.
Biblical confession is not doing good works to get God to approve of us. It is also not a light, mindless recounting of our sins to make sure we get everything covered. The word “confess” in the Greek language means to “say the same thing as.” When a criminal confesses, he says the same thing that everyone else has been saying about his crime. It is honest agreement.
But, spiritual confession is more. It is a godly sorrow. It is not only saying the same thing as God about our sin, but a broken heart that sees sin for what it really is and does with sin what God would do, which is to repent. Nowhere is this seen more vividly than in David’s prayer of confession in Psalm 51, that followed his adultery with Bathsheba, which was exposed by his confrontation with the prophet, Nathan.
1. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY
The natural response of our flesh when our sin is exposed is to find a way to blame someone else. David uses personal pronouns 13 times in the first six verses of Psalm 51.
“Wash ME thoroughly from MY iniquity and cleanse ME from MY sin. For I know MY transgressions, and MY sin is ever before ME.” (Psalm 51:2-3, emphasis mine)
If we are still shifting the blame to others, blaming our circumstances, etc., we have not yet come to see our sin as God sees it.
2. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION RELIES ON GOD’S MERCY
No man can atone for his own sin. When we see the depth of our sin, we realize there is nothing we can to make it better. Only God can forgive, cleanse, and restore.
“Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.” (Psalm 51:1)
All of our sin was dealt with upon the cross. When we see our sin, it breaks our heart for what we have done to Christ. But, it also fills our heart with gratitude, knowing that our sins have been dealt with by His sacrifice. God is anxious and willing to forgive if we will turn to Him (1 John 1:9).
3. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION SEES THE ROOT OF OUR SIN
When we see our sin clearly, we realize that our depravity is complete. That, apart from God’s work, we will always sin because we are sinners by nature and by birth. It is not merely external forces that have caused this. It is in us.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (vs. 5)
4. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION CRIES OUT FOR MORE THAN JUST FORGIVENESS
When we see our sin rightly, we not only want forgiveness, but we long for cleansing. We cry out to God to remove the sin and its roots from our lives forever.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” (vs. 10a)
5. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION LONGS FOR A SUSTAINED LIFE OF OBEDIENCE
If we are deeply repentant, we want to obey God fully in the areas we’ve sinned. We long for a spirit in us that will help us persevere in the future so we do not commit the same sins. Where there was unwillingness to obey, we pray for the Divine grace to be willing to follow the prompting of His Spirit and the illumination of His Word.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me … sustain me with a willing spirit.” (Vs. 10, 12)
6. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION LONGS FOR THE RETURN OF GOD’S PRESENCE
When we sin, the greatest loss is the sense and help of God’s presence. For David, in the Old Testament age, that could mean that God would lift His Holy Spirit out of David’s life.
For New Testament believers, this is impossible for once He enters, the Spirit will never leave us. But the Spirit can be quenched and grieved. Our sin pushes Him off the throne of our lives and takes control and the work of His Spirit in us is momentarily stopped. To lose God’s presence is the greatest loss. Often, this loss is the warning alarm that awakens us and leads us to repentance.
“Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” (vs. 11)
7. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION LONGS FOR USEFUL MINISTRY IN THE FUTURE
Every person was made to minister for God and to serve others. Sin corrupts this ministry, and sometimes destroys it altogether. If we are truly repentant, we not only long for forgiveness and renewed obedience, but we have a desire to be restored to ministry. To be able to praise the Lord in ways that speak of Him to others.
“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise.” (vs. 14-15)
8. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION IS FUELED BY BROKENNESS
The brokenness that David speaks of in Psalm 51 is not the mere crushing that comes from the circumstances of life. It is the spiritual surrender of the will to the will of God. True confession isn’t penance for our sins (as some teach). God is not impressed by us trying to atone for our sins by other human good works. He is looking for a heart that is broken and surrendered to Him—that understands that the only forgiveness comes from God’s mercy.
“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Vs. 17)
9. SPIRITUAL CONFESSION LEADS TO JOY!
When we genuinely deal with our sin God’s way, it does not lead to a morose self-inspection, but an ultimate joy. We are saved from our sin and joy floods our hearts once again as we experience God’s redeeming, cleansing work.
“Make me to hear joy and gladness. Let the bones which You have broken rejoice … restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” (Vs. 8, 12)
10. SPIRITUAL, PERSONAL CONFESSION LEADS TO CORPORATE REVIVAL
When God’s people begin to deal honestly with their sin, it opens the way for His presence and power to return. This is personal revival. And when His people are full of Him, it leads to the church doing its work among those far from God. This leads to spiritual awakening among those who do not know Him. In this sense, revival and awakening begins with personal repentance! David ends his confession with a prayer for God’s work to extend to his whole city.
“By Your favor do good to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem” (Vs. 18)
If we are feeling distant and disconnected from Christ and we long for revival in our hearts, our families, our churches, and our nation, it begins with an honest look at our own lives and a ruthless dealing with all that is displeasing Him and aborting His work. It is worth the time, and nothing will be restored to rightness and usefulness until we deal thoroughly with our sin.
If we’re not careful, our souls can pull us away from intimacy with Christ and drive our lives. We can live soulish, carnal (fleshly) lives even though Christ is in us. This is the source of all our difficulties in the Christian life. So, how do we handle our souls?
