Ongoing Forgiveness
Pastor Dave Monreal, Lead Pastor
The Bible compares our relationship with Christ to that of a marriage between a husband and a wife. In fact, according to Ephesians 5:21-33, it is human marriage that is a copy of our relationship with our Savior! This is helpful to show why ongoing confession is necessary in the Christian life. We can fall into two errors; one is to repeatedly confess the same sin over and over not really believing we are forgiven, and our relationship has been fully restored. The other error is to say that we have confessed our sin once when we accepted Christ so there is no need for ongoing confession of our sins to God throughout the day.
The first error may be more easily seen if we focus on the promise of forgiveness given to those who confess. But the second error is a little less obvious. Thinking about human marriage can help. The moment a man and woman exchange vows and complete their wedding they are as married as they are ever going to be. They are not going to be more or less married tomorrow or next week. However, the intimacy of their relationship can wax and wane depending on how their heart is towards the other and if there are any sins that have fractured the relationship. Hurts and sins put a relational barrier between the two people until it is confessed, repented of, and fully addressed. They are not less married, but they are less relationally connected. sin has interfered with their relationship.
This is what happens when we sin against God. Our relationship does not end because we have violated God’s word, but the intimacy of the relationship is interrupted, and sin hardens our hearts towards God. When we sin, we become calloused and insensitive to the Holy Spirit. Confessing our sin doesn’t make us more of a Christian. What confession does is acknowledge our sin. Repentance is distinct from confession and is the heart attitude of turning away from our sin and turning back toward God. We restore the intimacy of our relationship that sin had fractured. When we sin our hearts and affections become polluted by sin and confession cleanses our hearts and rekindles the affection that we have lost.
When we sin, we have not “lost our salvation.” We do not need to be “re-saved.” But we do need to acknowledge our sin to God and say about it the same thing that He has said about it in his word. We need to see it as God sees it and, in our hearts, turn away from it and turn back to God. God forgives us for this sin and restores to us the joy of our salvation. He softens our hearts that have been hardened by sin and stirs the love of God that has been eclipsed by our transgression.
Confession should be ongoing in the Christian life. This means, the moment the Holy Spirit makes you aware of your sin you immediately run to God. You see your sin for what it is confessing and forsaking it. When we have lust, pride, jealousy, or anger we need to see it for the sin it is and seek forgiveness and cleansing. When we have a critical spirit or feel superior to others we need to repent. Keep a short account of sin. No sin is too “small” to ignore. As has been said, “The Christian life is a life of repentant faith.” Run to Jesus for forgiveness and renewed grace throughout the day, every day.
