All of us sin… I’m not saying that we have all sinned (though that is true, Romans 3:23), but we all–actively, persistently–sin. If we say otherwise, we lie, but if we confess our sins–if we agree with God that we have fallen short of His holy standard–He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9).
The Gospel–that Jesus died and rose again to forgive us, cleanse us, and cancel the record of debt that stood against us–should free us to humbly confess our sins to one another, knowing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!
Confession is the response to true brokenness, and brokenness is the place where healing begins. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).
This is so true. The sad thing is too many of us are not only not willing to really confess our sins to one another, but are also not willing to listen to someone who wants to confess. It gets messy. It can be painful. It takes a heart willing to listen in love and not judge, and a heart willing to be transparent and let go of pride. I feel if the body of Christ really got intentional about this we would see huge growth.
We suppress the truth by our unrighteous living. (Romans 1:18). Therefore, when someone does confess their sin to us directly or in our presence, the truth of our sin that we have suppressed is called out and we, in our flesh, resist this light that is shining into us. This produces that “messy” unwillingness to listen to someone else who is confessing. The most typical response is silence or blowing it off.
I intensely share the same frustration. It’s also messy when we do confess our sin, with zeal and fervor, deeply desiring to live in freedom, and maybe it isn’t always appropriate. However, I’ll speak for myself and say I’d much rather have this latter messiness than the former.
Amen. I was just reading something that talks about “the call for spikenard” in our lives and that desire to live in freedom. 3 parts I liked:
1. “The call for spikenard calls us to be dispossessed of our own life. Spikenard cost more than a year’s wages. It represents all that you do and are, your inheritance, your legacy. To pour it out on Jesus’ head and feet seems a waste, not worship. To be dispossessed of your life is to have no reputation, no agenda, no self, no glory. It is to lay down your life because you see that you are dead in trespasses and sins. You willingly die to the natural, to the corrupt, to the carnal, and acknowledge the sin of the double-souled heart.”
2. “about a year ago now that God called for spikenard in my walk with Him. He was calling for a baptism into the death of Christ that the life of Christ might work in others. THIS VERSE is the verse that God would not let me get past yesterday in my reading, and now I know why!
3. “The anointing of spikenard prepared Jesus for His death and burial. He tells us this Himself. The fragrance that filled the room announced to the spirit world that Jesus would pass through death to life, that He would be the offering pleasing to God. He is the fragrance of life to those who are called to life, and the fragrance of death to those destined to die. The spikenard represents a life poured out in a supreme act of worship. Mixed with Jesus’ Blood and the spices of myrrh and aloes, the fragrance says to each and all in heaven and on earth that Jesus is Lord over death.”
When a person is willing to expose their heart to that light, I’m starting to realize that even those who walk with God are not always ready to witness it. What you say strikes my heart as very true – it shines directly on them and exposes all sorts of stuff. The author agrees: “This level of worship and relationship with Jesus will bring and does bring criticism, even from others close to Jesus. Mary’s act of worship was rebuked and rejected by the disciples, criticized and condemned.” (referring to the spikenard in 3 of the gospels).
here is the link to the whole article: http://www.marycraig.org/NewsViews/ServeTheLord.htm
Nothing too deep to say except that this is good stuff that we continually need to be spurred on with. The scriptures that you quote, Gary, are water to the soul; the video is both convicting and encouraging, all at the same time. Truth tends to be that way.
Thank you for caring enough to remind us, remind yourself, that we all need this.