Page 9 - December 2025 - Truth & Tidings

are called liars if we say we have no need your shoe at once and remove the stone
of confession. In fact, the charge is even before you again put down your foot.
greater than that, as we not only are found So it is with every little sin: If it is only a
to be liars ourselves, but are also calling thought, if it is only a look the wrong way,
God a liar. “If we say that we have not go to your Father and get rid of it.”
sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word What any earthly father would want
is not in us” (v10). Therefore, Scripture from a wayward child is for a confession
makes it clear that confession of sins is of a fault so that restoration can take place.
not just for the weak, the immature or the The prodigal’s father was waiting with
new believer, but rather applies to every open arms for the wayward son who came
believer. The apostle Paul understood that home confessing his sins. How much more
as long as he was on this earth he would be does our heavenly Father await with open
in a body that would continue to be prone arms for us to confess our sins to Him
to sin. “O wretched man that I am! Who and have that relationship and intimacy
will deliver me from this body of death?” restored.
(Rom 7:24).

Confession Restores Confession Refocuses
Because confession is so revealing, we When we, as believers, are quick to con-
often put it off. We trudge on with past fess our sin, we are consistently reminded
of the reason for which God no longer
sins unconfessed. Sometimes it may feel
like dark clouds have set in, that we are in needs to punish us or hold us accountable
a spiritual fog. We may feel we are walk- for that sin. But as a loving Father, He
ing with a limp in our spiritual life and wants us to simply confess it and forsake
our relationship with God. We are often it. The reason is that God is satisfied with
quick to note earthly relationships that are the payment that was made for that sin
suffering and do all that we can to remedy on Calvary. “If anyone sins, we have an
those issues. But often in our relationship Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
with the Lord, we are content to continue righteous. And He Himself is the propitia-
on as if all is well. tion for our sins” (1Jn 2:1-2). Jesus Christ,
Once we recognize the sin that is still the righteous One, is our Advocate and
present in our lives as believers, there is a He has satisfied God fully with regards to
tremendous promise for each child of God the penalty of our sins. And so, by daily
if we confess that sin. “If we confess our confessing our sins to our heavenly Father,
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us we are reminded of the finished work of
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrigh- Calvary and the tremendous price that
teousness” (1Jn 1:9). Charles Spurgeon was paid to set us free. And as we are
said, “A stone in your shoe, though almost reminded of this daily, we can refocus
invisible, will spoil a day’s journey. It is not on the purpose of the redeemed life: “Do
a great rock to grind you to powder. It is not present your members as instruments
only a little stone, but your foot will blister of unrighteousness to sin, but present
before you have walked many miles. How yourselves to God as being alive from the
great the pain of a single unconfessed sin! dead, and your members as instruments of
The best thing you can do is to take off righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13).

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