Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In 1993, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, two inspirational and motivational speakers, collaborated on writing their first book from the many stories from their audience members. This book has gained in popularity and is now grown into many more books. The first book was titled, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”. Maybe you have seen these in bookstores or others places where inspirational books are sold.
While these are helpful to many in areas of motivational need, there is another book, The Bible, which helps in the area of eternal need. Thus the thought from God’s Word on “Confession – Good For The Soul”.
In our society today it is commonplace for people to never admit guilt of anything therefore, no need for confession. To confess is to admit a wrong, to acknowledge our sin, to be in agreement with God about our sin.
There must be Confession for Conversion which is our new birth into God’s family as is given in our first verse, Romans 10:9. Then after salvation there is also Confession for Cleansing which after birth becomes a daily need. Every one that is saved must be clean to be in fellowship with God as taught in First John Chapter 1.
What does confession do in the life of a believer?
First, confession Reveals Character. In our day there is a great lack of character found in people. John said, “If we confess”. The emphasis is on us as believers. Billy Sunday said, “Your reputation is what people say about you. Your character is what God and your wife know about you.” Oh that we would see character in the lives of God’s people.
Second, confession Requires Cutting. It is one thing to hear that you need surgery and another to admit that you will have surgery. No one likes to be cut open to remove that which is our problem for physical health yet we allow it. We also must be willing to let the Great Physician cut open our lives to remove the problem of our spiritual life. Let God use His Word to cut into our souls as the writer of Hebrews 4:12 said, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ”
Third, confession Restores Communication. When the believer sins against God it breaks the fellowship that we have with our Savior. That fellowship is based upon our communing with Him and He with us. Sin causes us to not be on speaking grounds with the Lord. The only way to restore that communication is to confess (agree with God) our sin and ask for forgiveness with a promise never to do it again. The Lord then cleanses our soul and it opens the line of communing with Him. When our phone service is disrupted we are need of a service person to fix the problem and restore the service. God has given us the Holy Spirit to be our service person to diagnose our problem, reveal our problem and to remedy our problem. Our problem is between us and God the Father.
Confession is really good for the soul of every believer. We are not perfect just forgiven.
Lord, please use thy Word and the Holy Spirit in my life to reveal when there is sin in the camp. Then help me to confess that sin so I can be cleansed and live in sweet communication with Thee.