Friday, February 27, 2015

Acknowledging a Truth

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (I John 1:8-10 NIV)

To confess something, by definition, is to acknowledge a truth.  And it usually comes when there is little doubt of what that truth is.   An accused criminal will often confess when the evidence laid out for his crime is overwhelming.  A married person involved in an affair likely will not admit to it until the evidence is supplied.  Then the confession comes.  

With regard to sin, John says the evidence is overwhelming that we are sinners.  Yet, as he notes, many of us want to claim otherwise.  Not that we claim we are perfect, but we are often reluctant to acknowledge the truth that we have sinned in specific ways.  We confess that we struggle, but we find it harder to be specific.  When it comes to sin, many of us speak in generalities.  Or we focus on other people’s faults as a means to downplay our own.  “Well I may not be perfect, but at least I’m not as bad as so and so.”  

The truth is we are all sinners, not just in a generic way, but specifically. Each and every day we sin, not in general, but in specific ways.  And if we are honest, the evidence for that is overwhelming.  Just take a look back over yesterday.  You will likely see pride, anger, hypocrisy, lust, etc.  

While these things may be very uncomfortable to acknowledge, they are indeed the truth.  And the God we worship and serve is Truth.  To be aligned with Him is to be all about the truth, particularly in our own lives.   The good news, however, is when we acknowledge the truth that we have sinned He forgives us.  He wipes it away.  It’s as if it never happened.  But for that to occur, we have to first acknowledge it.  

Today, know God wants you to confess the specific sin in your life.  He wants you to acknowledge what is true.  But in doing so, be assured what you will receive will not be condemnation or punishment, but forgiveness and cleansing.

© Jim Musser 2015

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