Confessing for Forgiveness

One of the New Testament’s most quoted verses is one John nineteen : “If we confess our sins, he’s unswerving and righteous to pardon us our sins and to clean us from all unrighteousness.” Many Christians run to this verse for comfort that God will again hear their confession for a recurring sin – and they guarantee to do better. We understand that when we are saved, our past sins are forgiven.

However, many of us are erroneously taught that, though we are saved by grace, we remain forgiven by continual confession. It isn’t difficult to build our tenet of forgiveness on one verse, but we must consider the broad view of Scripture. Romans 8:1 announces that, after we trust Christ as Savior, we are free from criticism.

Our sin may still have temporal implications, but God in His unconditional love has fully pardoned us. Sin causes us to desert our fellowship with God, just as the prodigal boy purposely and willfully walked away from his father. Definitely , confession is an imperative part of a right relationship with the Father – maintaining intimate daily communication with Him – but our standing as His son can’t change.

Instead, He wants us liberated from guilt’s emotional bondage.
If we refuse to repent, He permits the pressure of our shame to remain.