Leviticus 5:5: “And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing.”

December 19th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Note that even under the old covenant confession was required and had to accompany the sacrifice as the outward expression of a repentant heart. Sinners were required to make an openly acknowledged agreement with God, concerning sin. Offering a sacrifice without faith, repentance, and obedience was hypocrisy.

As it was then, so it is still now. The New Testament teaches us that Jesus’ sacrifice has supplied all that is needed to take away the sins of the world, but we are required to acknowledge and turn from our sins. John reminds us in 1 John 1:8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

To think, or worse, to say, that we have reached a sinless state is a lie. It’s like saying we no longer need the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us. Instead of claiming to be sinless and making excuses, we must admit we have sinned. Then forgiveness comes, but it all begins with confession.

Confession brings forward forgiveness through the acceptance and recognition of what Jesus paid for us on the cross. He paid for our fresh start. He paid the penalty of death in order to wipe our slate clean. Confession is the opportunity to express exactly what was on that slate. Does God gain any benefit from our confession? No, He already knows the sins that are in our lives. He watched us commit them one by one. But confession allows us to see and acknowledge our dependence on Him to carry us through. Confession brings cleansing, washing the dirt and the grime away from our lives.

“LORD, we have sinned, please forgive us, in Jesus’ name.”