Confess Your Sins

Before the Lord Jesus rose from the dead the sacrificial system provided atonement for sins. Sacrifices were made continually and once each year sins were atoned and symbolically carried away. This was a symbolic act involving mortal human priests. It foreshadowed a reality to be revealed later in Jesus Christ.

In Hebrews 10:1–4 we read that “The [Old Testament] law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (NIV)

Before the death and resurrection of Jesus, forgiveness came little by little. Sin a little, get some forgiveness; sin a little, get some forgiveness.

Jesus, we are told, is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Hebrews helps us understand this, saying in Hebrews 10:10–18 “And by that will [the will of God], we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.” (NIV)

Saints, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ. This one gracious sacrifice of Himself for sin was once for all time. With this wonderful gift, He has made those who are putting their faith in Him perfect forever. The passage is clear about this. The word “perfect” is the same as “finished”, which Jesus cried out from the cross when He said, “It is finished.” Forgiveness has been fully completed.

This is the reason that after the cross the Scriptures proclaim our forgiveness in the past tense. John says, “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” 1 John 2:12 (NIV) Paul says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13, NIV)

1 John 1:8 tells us that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. It’s said another way in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (NIV). Everyone knows this. That’s why we have the saying, “nobody’s perfect.”

We express trust in God when we agree with Him and admit that. In fact, that is exactly what the next verse in 1 John 1 tells us. Verse 9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” The word translated “confess” means to speak/say the same, to agree with. What John is urging here is that everyone just admit that they are sinful and look to the Lord Jesus to save them from the natural consequences of that.

He clarifies further in verse 10, saying, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (NIV) Anyone who does not have “His Word” or as we read in verse 8, “the Truth” in them is an unbeliever still lost in sin and in bondage to the evil one. John made it very clear in the opening sentences of his Gospel that Jesus Christ is the Word. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 that He is the Truth.

Clearly then, this passage is not admonishing believers to confess each of their sins so that they can obtain little-by-little forgiveness like those living under the Law handed down by Moses. Forgiveness does not come from confession; it comes from the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, we read in Hebrews 9:22 that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (NIV) Jesus gave His blood and that blood was given once for all time.

If confession brought more forgiveness, then Christ would have had to die over and over. That’s a point Hebrews takes some time to make in detail in Hebrews 9:24–26.

That passage says, “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (NIV)

No wonder then, that John the Baptizer called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That is exactly what He did!

Saints, you are completely, totally, and forever forgiven.

If you want to tell Father you’re sorry or express regret over things you wish you had not said or done, go right ahead. But do so knowing with certainty that no further forgiveness will be forthcoming. No more forgiveness can be provided because you have already been completely forgiven for every sin you’ll ever commit. The blood of Christ is perfect and will never be shed again.

For a brief study of 1 John Chapter 1 tap this link: https://www.larryeiss.com/blog/20234171-john-chapter-1