The motivations behind what we do are extremely important. They can either help us along in our Christian walk or hold us back and trip us up. The act of confessing is one example. As believers, there will always be times when we need to confess, but we never need to confess in order to receive God’s forgiveness for our sins.

It’s vital to rightly divide God’s Word on this so that we’ll understand why believers confess. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, this was written to unbelievers; God calls believers “my little children” and says that if they sin, they have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

There was once a need to confess to receive forgiveness of sins before Jesus’ death and resurrection, but thankfully, His finished works changed everything. If we’ve been born again, we’re now already forgiven. We can be kind and forgive one another, even as God for Christ’s sake forgave us. If we quarrel against someone, even as Christ forgave us, we also forgive them.

To confess is to declare or acknowledge something. As Christians, there are plenty of things we can, and should, declare that line up with the Word. We’ve been delivered; let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the enemy’s hand. Communicating our faith becomes effectual by acknowledging every good thing in us in Christ Jesus.

There’s nothing wrong with confessing to God—if we confess correctly. Instead of confessing in guilt to ask Him to forgive us, we can ‘fess up, acknowledge the mistakes we made, and thank Him for forgiving us before we were even born. We have redemption through Christ’s blood and forgiveness for our sins, according to the riches of His grace. This knowledge allows us to enjoy our relationship with Him.           

Prayer:

God, everyone who has confessed Jesus Christ as their own personal Lord and Savior has already received the forgiveness that has been made available to them. This releases us from having to confess our sins, first, to be forgiven. We’re grateful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

1 John 1:9

1 John 2:1

Ephesians 4:32

Colossians 3:13

Psalm 107:2

Philemon 1:6

Ephesians 1:7