A Deep Cleansing

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Since we introduced the topic of “sin” last week—and the importance of pairing it with the Gospel—I suppose I should confess something to you.

There is something missing—something deeply missing—from my prayer life: confession of sin.

For a long time, I have treated confession like a small, almost flippant act… something I unintentionally omit, tied to my often “head in the clouds” state of mind. But even that is an omission of the truth.

The honest answer is this: I have deemed it unimportant—something included in my “package deal” as a Christian. I mean… why would I take the time confessing things God already knows, and things for which Jesus already died?

Ugh. Even writing that makes me feel gross. It’s humbling, to say the least.

But this is precisely why I write today. I’ve chosen to dive deeper into the realm of sin because so many of us forget about it. And without it, Jesus didn’t need to come, God didn’t need to save us, and the fall never occurred.

Sin isn’t sexy. It doesn’t make you feel good. And there seems to be a tendency to turn away from it because of the guilt and shame that often go along with it—but that’s where we get it wrong.

Where there is sin, there is grace. God isn’t into guilt—He is into humble submission and a compassionate reply.

Confessing our sin is our admission of desperate need, and a humble recognition that we fall short—always. Without this routine humbling, we stray from reliance into a world of independence. And while the world tells us that independence is success, it ultimately leads to our downfall.

Do you believe that?

The more I read and begin to understand why repentance is so crucial to our daily relationship with Jesus, I can’t help but focus on my sin. Note: this is not a guilt-ridden focus that leads me down paths of self-loathing. It’s a revelation of why I need Him.

Further, the more I get to know Him—the more I see His love for me and for all of His creation—I want to confess and obey. In fact, I can’t help but confess.

My realization is this: My lack of confession and recognition of my repeated and perpetual sinfulness is rooted in unbelief. Because if I truly believed all of it and submitted to it, I would fall at the feet of the One who saved me.

And I don’t.

I’m sure you’re thinking, Oh Autumn, you’re too hard on yourself. Or, Oh Autumn, this seems so dark. But you have to sit in the dark to reveal the power of the light. You have to go there.

So I’ll leave you with this:

Your sin and mine is always met with compassion and forgiveness. Always.

Did you know that “compassionate” was the first word God used to describe Himself to Moses in Exodus? Remember that. And remember the God you serve.

You need Him. So confess those sins, recognize them, and search yourself to find them—knowing that a compassionate God will meet you right there.

Reflection: What in your day-to-day life have you rationalized, even though deep down you know it is sinful?