When was the last time that you broke something that wasn’t yours? Or when was the last time that you broke a law, however minor or minute? How did you act? Were you a person who tried to act like you did nothing wrong, denying any and all involvement? Or did you own up to your faults and mistakes, accepting full responsibility and acknowledging that you were in the wrong?
We all make mistakes. We will all fail or fall short of what we should do at some point. That is what sin is, whatever is contrary to the teachings found in the Bible. But what we need to do is be able to confess our sins, because without the confession of sins we have no forgiveness.
To confess is defined in the dictionary as to admit the truth, particularly in the context of sins and crimes committed.
In order for the forgiveness that we all need to receive to take place, we need to be able to confess our sins when we have done what is wrong. We need to say the words, I was wrong. I am a sinner, and I need forgiveness. It is at that moment that forgiveness can happen. After all, how can someone be forgiven if they don’t first admit the facts of their own shortcomings?
1 John 1:6-10 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Do you know who readily admitted that he was a sinner? The apostle Paul did, in 1 Timothy 1:12-16.
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
The chief of sinners. How many people do you know who would label themselves like this? Paul, in his humility, acknowledged his own faults and shortcomings, even calling himself, in a manner of speaking, the worst sinner. How many people would do that?
Unless someone admits their sins they are only decieving themselves. If someone actually believes that they are perfect, they need to take a closer look at their life and maybe then they will find the truth. All have sinned. You, me, Paul, James and John…. everyone. But let us follow the example that Paul set and say those words: I am a sinner. Because we are.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 