I will note that this topic has been on my mind for many weeks, but this week in Bible study, it was highlighted. I am in a group of precious ladies studying the book of James in Beth Moore's study "Mercy Triumphs". Here is what I suggest - #1) Get your hands on that study! #2) Dive into it as a soul expecting to be altered for the glory of God. #3) Live it.
Sin. The word just gives me an icky feeling all over....because this girl's soul desires the holy things of my God....and my God HATES sin. Praise God for the Holy Spirit in me that keeps me sensitive to sin....keeps me accountable....keeps me desiring Christ and doesn't let me be content in sinning.
Confession. This word also makes me uncomfortable - but that's because of my fleshly pride. Who, in and of themselves, wants to confess wrong doings?? Without Christ as my Savior, and the Spirit living in me to convict me and help me overcome myself, I would not naturally want to confess anything. However, to a believer who desires a life walking closely with the Lord of lords, confession is a necessary step for true repentance. And repentance keeps the sin barrier wall from building between you and Holy God Almighty.
Sometimes, it is necessary to confess sin publicly - could be to just a few friends, or to a large group. But, we need to act Biblically when we do this. It is a good thing to do - when it is necessary (I'll get to that in a bit), but there is a line that must not be crossed.
God already knows all the details of your sin, and neither He nor you need to relive them by describing all the details. And, let's be clear....God is the only one who can truly forgive your sin and wipe your slate clean. So, the first confession must me made to Him. But, if/when you need to involve others, the use of generalities is best if you are needing to confess in public, because (here is the uncrossable line) getting into the gory details gives glory to the sin and takes glory from God. Rehashing the ugly details of a past sin is verging on gossip and it often elicits feelings, within yourself and within the audience listening, that take a person's mind off of "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise" (Phil 4:8)...and put a person's mind on negative things. And where do you think Satan would like to have our thoughts?? Confession, repentance, and forgiveness are possible through the never-ending love of God and His all-abounding mercy and grace. So, when we confess, we should have a heart of love - for Christ and others. If we are confessing before others, it is love that should precede what we say....our love for them and desire to not be a stumbling block is our motive to not divulge more than the necessary information.
So, when is it appropriate to confess in public? The simple answer is when we have wronged others. (And lets be clear here, we do not have to confess ALL of our sins in public.) If we have wronged a large group, it is right to briefly state the general sin and then seek forgiveness. If we have wronged a family member or friend, it is right to approach that person (in private) and briefly state the general sin and then seek forgiveness. In all honesty, I tend to struggle in this area and wanting to say too much of what I am thinking - explain myself too much. Sometimes, words come out of my mouth that end up nullifying the confession because those words have led to more hurt and negativity. So, it is my desire to keep my tongue in check in all I say, in every situation.
There is another sticky situation in confession....what if you wronged someone who doesn't know that you wronged them? Do you approach them and reveal your sin, thus making them aware - and potentially hurting them, and then asking for their forgiveness? The answer goes back to your motive....are you simply telling them so that you can bring attention to the sin that was committed? OR...are you telling them because hiding sin would be more harmful and confessing the sin would be showing love? And the even more ultimate answer is....if you have first confessed your sin to God - have repented - and have turned from that sin through God's forgiveness, you MUST seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. God speaks, it is up to us to tune our hearts, minds, souls, and ears to be able to hear Him. I, in my humanness, cannot say who should confess any sin to anyone other than Almighty God.....so, you MUST be on your knees, face down in humility, in prayer to let God do the leading in that situation.
We know that God is love....and we know that all who love others knows God. When we deal with sin in our lives, we turn to God first for forgiveness, then do as His Spirit leads if further action on our part is needed.
Sin. The word just gives me an icky feeling all over....because this girl's soul desires the holy things of my God....and my God HATES sin. Praise God for the Holy Spirit in me that keeps me sensitive to sin....keeps me accountable....keeps me desiring Christ and doesn't let me be content in sinning.
Confession. This word also makes me uncomfortable - but that's because of my fleshly pride. Who, in and of themselves, wants to confess wrong doings?? Without Christ as my Savior, and the Spirit living in me to convict me and help me overcome myself, I would not naturally want to confess anything. However, to a believer who desires a life walking closely with the Lord of lords, confession is a necessary step for true repentance. And repentance keeps the sin barrier wall from building between you and Holy God Almighty.
Sometimes, it is necessary to confess sin publicly - could be to just a few friends, or to a large group. But, we need to act Biblically when we do this. It is a good thing to do - when it is necessary (I'll get to that in a bit), but there is a line that must not be crossed.
God already knows all the details of your sin, and neither He nor you need to relive them by describing all the details. And, let's be clear....God is the only one who can truly forgive your sin and wipe your slate clean. So, the first confession must me made to Him. But, if/when you need to involve others, the use of generalities is best if you are needing to confess in public, because (here is the uncrossable line) getting into the gory details gives glory to the sin and takes glory from God. Rehashing the ugly details of a past sin is verging on gossip and it often elicits feelings, within yourself and within the audience listening, that take a person's mind off of "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise" (Phil 4:8)...and put a person's mind on negative things. And where do you think Satan would like to have our thoughts?? Confession, repentance, and forgiveness are possible through the never-ending love of God and His all-abounding mercy and grace. So, when we confess, we should have a heart of love - for Christ and others. If we are confessing before others, it is love that should precede what we say....our love for them and desire to not be a stumbling block is our motive to not divulge more than the necessary information.
So, when is it appropriate to confess in public? The simple answer is when we have wronged others. (And lets be clear here, we do not have to confess ALL of our sins in public.) If we have wronged a large group, it is right to briefly state the general sin and then seek forgiveness. If we have wronged a family member or friend, it is right to approach that person (in private) and briefly state the general sin and then seek forgiveness. In all honesty, I tend to struggle in this area and wanting to say too much of what I am thinking - explain myself too much. Sometimes, words come out of my mouth that end up nullifying the confession because those words have led to more hurt and negativity. So, it is my desire to keep my tongue in check in all I say, in every situation.
There is another sticky situation in confession....what if you wronged someone who doesn't know that you wronged them? Do you approach them and reveal your sin, thus making them aware - and potentially hurting them, and then asking for their forgiveness? The answer goes back to your motive....are you simply telling them so that you can bring attention to the sin that was committed? OR...are you telling them because hiding sin would be more harmful and confessing the sin would be showing love? And the even more ultimate answer is....if you have first confessed your sin to God - have repented - and have turned from that sin through God's forgiveness, you MUST seek the Holy Spirit's guidance. God speaks, it is up to us to tune our hearts, minds, souls, and ears to be able to hear Him. I, in my humanness, cannot say who should confess any sin to anyone other than Almighty God.....so, you MUST be on your knees, face down in humility, in prayer to let God do the leading in that situation.
We know that God is love....and we know that all who love others knows God. When we deal with sin in our lives, we turn to God first for forgiveness, then do as His Spirit leads if further action on our part is needed.
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.
~Proverbs 10:12
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
~1 Peter 4:8
And for all those mommies and daddies out there, when you have sinned against your children (or sinned in front of them)....it is TOTALLY appropriate for you to apologize (confess your sin) and ask forgiveness from your children, toddlers and older. When our children see us humbling ourselves, acknowledging that we sinned, stating that we have asked God for forgiveness, and then asking our children to forgive us......it is HUGE!!! Why would our children want to apologize for anything they do against others, if we aren't modeling that behavior when they have been the ones wronged?? God uses us parents in a mighty way in the lives of our kiddos....being a humble parent, able to give and ask for forgiveness, is just one small way.
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