TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we’re going to talk about a long lost virtue that used to be a major part of what it means to follow Jesus and be the Church. Confession used to be an attractive feature of the Church, but over the centuries it became redefined and systemized. For Catholic believers, confession is often limited to admitting sins to a priest. For Protestant believers, confession is often limited to admitting sins to God. But the Bible describes two types of confession. Both types of biblical confession are necessary to break the chains of sin, guilt, and darkness. Confession is the key to getting free. Confession with God 1 John 1:5–7 ESV 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we walk in darkness, we lie = When we choose to stay in our sin, we are choosing to walk in darkness. This means that we are being deceived and deceiving ourselves. John is refers to his readers as “we” because he is addressing people who claim to follow Jesus. If “we” followers of Jesus are walking in darkness, then we are lying. If we walk in the light = John, in his Gospel wrote, “In Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). Jesus taught that His followers are “the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). Therefore, to follow (obey) Jesus is to walk in the light. In the light, nothing is hidden and truth exposes falsehood and deception. We have fellowship with one another = If we walk in the light we not only have fellowship (sharing relationship) with God, but also with one another. This implies that when we walk in the light our relationships are real and healthy. When someone begins to avoid fellowship with believers, that is a sign that darkness is creeping into their life. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin = This is a deeply rooted in Old Testament imagery. The Torah tells us that life is in the blood (Lev. 17:11, 14). When a sacrifice was made in the tabernacle, the animal was a symbol of the person making the offering. The blood was applied to the altar, which was a symbol of a person’s life being joined or united with God. This ritual was a symbol of purification and atonement. In the same way, Jesus (the Lamb) applied His own blood as our substitute to purify us so we can be joined or united with God (at-one-ment). ​ 1 John 1:8–9 ESV 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We deceive ourselves = This is the precise reason that we walk in darkness. Self-deception is one of our greatest enemies and one of our greatest skills. The reason we are so skilled at deceiving ourselves is because our hearts are, above all, deceitful (Jer. 17:9). Our deceptive hearts will find ways to justify our sins, hide our sins, and even redefine sin so we can continue to do and get what we want. This is why we are never intended to follow Jesus alone. We need people around us that are willing to point out what we cannot see. Bringing your heart into the light is the only way out of self-deception. How can we bring our hearts into the light? Confession. If we confess our sins = The Greek word for “confess” used here is homologeo, which to acknowledge and agree about what has been done. Therefore, confession is not merely admitting that you’ve done something wrong or giving a list of your sins to God. Confession is being transparent and honest about what you have done and agreeing with God’s view of sin. OT Teaching on Confession: Confession is not unique to the New Testament. The concept is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. In Psalm 32:5 David says, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” After his sin with Bathsheba we see David’s struggle with guilt in Psalm 51:3 “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.” Psalm 51 is a great picture of confession, because David is facing the reality of his sin, being brutally honest about it, and begging God for mercy. He is faithful and just = This means that God is dependable (faithful) to act for our good and that He has the right (just) to pardon and forgive. If we face the reality of our sin with transparent honesty, we can trust God to listen and forgive. If we struggle to believe that He can forgive us, we must remember that God has already decided that He will. God is just by His own definition and does not play by our rules of who or what can be forgiven. The rules of forgiveness are set by God, not us. Our preferred act of justice is punishment. God’s preferred act of justice is forgiveness. To forgive us = Grk. aphiemi - to release, send away, leave behind, or abandon. This implies that repentance is required, because sin can’t be sent away if we’re still holding on to it. Forgiveness = Freedom When God forgives us, He sets us free from the bondage of darkness, deception, and guilt. When we forgive others, we are doing the same for them. To cleanse us = Grk. katharizo - to purify, wash clean, to heal. True confession and repentance is the only way to be purified and find healing. If God has every right to punish, but faithfully chooses to forgive, what gives us the right not to forgive others? What gives us the right not to forgive ourselves? ​ Proverbs 28:13 ESV Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Confession + Repentance = Mercy/Forgiveness Confession with One Another Most of us understand that we must confess our sins to God to receive forgiveness and to be cleansed from sin. But most modern Christians have not been taught that Scripture commands us to confess our sins to each other. ​ James 5:16 ESV 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Confess your sins to one another = James uses a slightly different form (exomologeo) of the same word that John used (homogeo). James commands his readers to acknowledge and agree together about their sins. That you may be healed = Just as confessing our sins to God leads to healing in our relationship with Him, the same is true about our relationship with each other. Confession brings healing to relationships. If mercy and healing are promised, why do we avoid confession? Fear of rejection/punishment. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of facing your true self. Fear of having to change. The church must be a family who provides safe place for confession, mercy, and healing as we all pursue our Father together. Anything else is not a biblical church. Conclusion In response to what we have learned today, ask these questions: What do I need to confess to God? What do I need to confess to a fellow believer? Why am I avoiding my own healing?