Confession | Knowable Word

Confess Your Sins to God When Applying the Bible

June 20, 2022 By Ryan Higginbottom

Applying the Bible involves putting off and putting on. We put off the old self, which belongs to our former manner of life, and we put on the new self, “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22–24). Put differently: applying the Bible involves repentance.

Sam Storms offers a helpful definition of repentance.

True Christian repentance involves a heartfelt conviction of sin, a contrition over the offense to God, a turning away from the sinful way of life, and a turning towards a God-honoring way of life.

The “putting off” and “putting on” essential to repentance has a moral component. This is not like exchanging a baseball cap for a fedora. This “contrition” before God is also known as confession.

Examples of Confession

After hearing the word of God, the Holy Spirit brings conviction, showing us the ways we have sinned. We have numerous examples of God’s people confessing their sins in the Bible.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:3–5)

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment. (Psalm 51:3–4)

O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. (Ezra 9:6–7)

The Scriptures also assume we will regularly confess our sins to God.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8–9)

God’s Kindness

It is good for us to think about the different spheres and directions for our Bible application. But confessing sin is often a necessary step in the process. It is not just that we need a different strategy for loving our neighbor or a new approach to handling gossip. Frequently, we must confess that what we have been doing (or not doing) is offensive to God and deserving of his anger.

Here are some principles related to confession.

Be honest and specific — Let’s not only talk about our “struggles” or “destructive patterns.” Let’s name our sins the way the Bible names them and bring them to God with that vocabulary. God knows all and trying to hide anything from him is downright silly.
Consider the heart — Bad fruit (observable sin) in our lives is the outworking of rebellion in our hearts. (See Luke 6:43–45.) So while we do need to confess our gossiping (for example), we must also think about the impulses and desires that make us crave those conversations. It’s difficult to trace polluted streams back to their source; conversations with trusted friends can be invaluable in this regard.
Confess your sins to others — All of our sin is against God; some of our sin is also against other people. Part of repenting of these sins is confessing them and seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.
Pray for conviction — This may sound scary, but part of the essential function of God’s word is to expose us (Hebrews 4:12–13). It is not God’s displeasure but his kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God brings us conviction as a loving father disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:7–11).
Remember this is the way of grace — While it might not feel good to see more of our sin and discover it goes deeper than we thought, this ultimately helps us exult in God’s grace. When we understand more of our offenses against God, we are reminded that our salvation is due to God’s grace. So, while painful, confession gives us more opportunities to glorify God for his grace.

A Key Step in Application

Not every application requires confession along the way. A church might make a change to their ministry to widows as an application of James 1:27, seeking greater effectiveness or wider opportunities. There might not necessarily be sin in their previous approach.

However, most application probably requires some sort of confession. And because God is so gracious, when his children come to him admitting their transgressions, he forgives. He reminds us of the work of Jesus for us. And that gives us real power to change.

Take the Obvious Step

March 18, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

Mahkeo (2017), public domain

If you need refreshment or encouragement, schedule some time with a new Christian. The recently-reborn often have a clarity and passion lacking in those who are older in the faith.

A friend was recently telling me about a new Christian he knows. I was thrilled to hear the steps this young man was taking! He heard biblical teaching on stewardship and finances, and he asked for helping making a budget. He was convicted about church membership, so he looked for a local body to join. He read the Great Commission and began inviting his unbelieving friends to an evangelistic Bible study.

For this young man, there is great power in recognizing and submitting to Jesus as Lord. When the master’s commands are clear, there is no room to argue.

How We Mangle Application

As we study the Bible, we often come up short when it comes to application. This is both understandable and regrettable.

Our flesh is fiercely resistant to the Spirit, so it is natural to omit application. It’s the hardest step in the Bible study process precisely because it is the most personal. Application requires repentance and faith and change, all of which are hard.

But stopping short of application is also a great tragedy. In fact, many unbelievers would be comfortable observing and interpreting the Bible. We show and pursue the fruit of the Holy Spirit when we apply God’s truth personally and corporately.

Even those familiar with solid Bible study principles may wriggle out of applying God’s word. Seasoned Christians, tired of “read more, pray more” mantras, may dig and brainstorm instead. They end up distracted by a countryside hunt when the treasure was sitting on their doorstep.

Different Kinds of Application

In an effort to seem original or deep, our chase for applications can dodge the undeniable thrust of a passage of Scripture. We approach the gold mine with a shovel and end up buried under a pile of nuance.

It’s worth re-orienting ourselves. Peter has urged us to consider two directions (inward and outward) as well as three spheres of application (head, hands, and heart). Though this makes six total combinations (our worksheet can help), not every passage will land on every person or group in all six ways.

However, dividing possible applications into these categories may lead you away from actually applying the main point of a passage. Resist this temptation! Sometimes the next steps are obvious, and instead of spending time checking boxes, we should direct our prayer and planning toward the clear application.

There may be something obvious we should believe (head application).

There may be something obvious we should embrace or love (heart application).

There may be something obvious we should do (hands application).

A Recent Example

My small group is studying Luke, and at a recent meeting we read Luke 14:1–24. In part of this passage (verses 7–11), Jesus tells a parable about a wedding feast. Jesus insists that his followers should not assume a place of honor but rather the “lowest place.” This way, if anyone is in the wrong chair, the public re-seating would be honoring instead of shameful. Jesus ends the parable with his main point: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

In our meeting, we talked about humbling ourselves. How can we remember our standing before God on a regular basis?

In the moment, I thought of an obvious application: confessing my sins. In remembering my sins and taking them to God, seeking and receiving his forgiveness because of Jesus’ work, I have a plain application of this passage. I have been trying to work this into my regular devotional life.

Find the Next Step

Not all passages have obvious applications, but some do. If you have been following Christ for many years, you may instinctively resist what seems easy and obvious. However, these applications are abundant in Scripture for a reason: We need to hear them. Often.

And, as always, remember Jesus as you apply his word. Walk toward that application in the Spirit’s power and with the understanding that—as a Christian—you are already loved and forgiven.

Context Matters: Chief of Sinners

June 1, 2018 By Peter Krol

Perhaps you’ve heard Christian leaders refer to themselves as the “chief of sinners.” Perhaps you’ve even said this about yourself. You might know the phrase comes from 1 Tim 1:15 KJV. Modern translations typically use “foremost” (1 Tim 1:15 ESV, 1 Tim 1:15 NASB) or “worst” (1 Tim 1:15 NIV, 1 Tim 1:15 CSB) instead of “chief.” I have no concern with the exact translation, but I often wonder if those using the phrase have taken heed of its context.

Context matters. If we learn to read the Bible for what it is—and not as a collection of independently assembled proverbial sayings—we’ll discover that some of our most familiar passages say something slightly different from what we’ve always assumed.

The Right Track

When people self-apply the label “chief of sinners,” they are not doing gross violence to this verse. Paul introduces the statement with, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance” (1 Tim 1:15). This suggests that the phrase was a common saying that people had spoken or heard, and it suggests that Paul was endorsing the truth of it.

Now it’s possible that the “trustworthy saying” was just the first part (“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”), and that Paul appended his own comment (“of whom I am the foremost”) to it. Or the entire statement could be the “trustworthy saying.” We’re not sure, because ancient Greek manuscripts didn’t have quotation marks to signal which part Paul was quoting, and which part was his own reflection.

But we can still confidently say that when Christians use the “chief of sinners/foremost sinner” language, they are honoring Paul’s wishes that this statement is “deserving of full acceptance.” This could be an appropriate view for children of God to take of themselves, as they become increasingly aware of the depth of their indwelling sin, and as long as it’s not merely false humility.

The Argument

But let’s also notice that Paul is making a rhetorical point.

There is a problem in Ephesus with false teachers, teaching “different doctrine” (1 Tim 1:3), speculating on mysteries in the Torah (1 Tim 1:4), and failing to understand the assertions they make so confidently about the law (1 Tim 1:7). They have missed the point of the law: love issuing from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5).

The law, you see, is a very good thing when you use it lawfully. It’s not for the good guys but the bad guys. It addresses whatever is contrary to sound doctrine, and it does so in perfect harmony with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God (1 Tim 1:8-11).

Case in point: Paul’s own testimony. He can think of no example more severe. He thought he was a good guy in God’s world, but in truth he was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent (1 Tim 1:12-13a). The law judged him as such, but the grace of our Lord overflowed for him in Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1:13b-14).

Therefore, the saying is trustworthy…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I [Paul] am the foremost.

But Paul received mercy for one primary reason: so Jesus Christ could display his perfect patience in the chief of sinners. Why would he do this? To make Paul an example to those who were to believe in Jesus for eternal life (1 Tim 1:16). This King of the ages, the only God, deserves all honor and glory forever and ever (1 Tim 1:17).

The Point

Paul never says his readers should think of themselves as the foremost sinners. He clearly says that he himself is the foremost of sinners (“in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example” – 1 Tim 1:16).

The point is that, in context, Paul is saying he occupies a unique place in redemptive history. He’s not using “chief of sinners” language to model self-effacing humility. He’s using it because he is truly hard-pressed to find any worse sinner than he was. Of course it’s a terrible thing to be a tyrannical oppressor and attacker of innocent people. But it’s even more terrible to do so in God’s name, believing yourself to be doing out of obedience to him.

And if King Jesus can rescue a guy like that, applying the law to his sin, and demonstrating perfect patience through the faith and love—he can rescue anybody. Even you. Even me.

By this charge, Timothy, and Christian leaders today, may wage the good warfare (1 Tim 1:18).

Context matters.

Assurance Requires Exposure

June 30, 2014 By Peter Krol

I’m taking a short break from my Monday Proverbs study for this reflection on assurance from 1 John.

‘Tis the season for going to the pool, which means I get to do more reading than usual. But I can’t sit comfortably poolside unless I have assurance of my children’s safety, which involves:

Strategic positioning to see all pool areas.
Head counts every 5 minutes.

If I can’t see a child, I must get up and walk around until I have all the facts. Only when the facts come to light can I rest assured and return to my literary bliss.

This process is also true of the Christian life. John wrote his first letter to those who believe in Jesus, to give them assurance of eternal life (1 John 5:13). But assurance requires exposure. There can be no assurance without first exposing the cold facts. Though John will give three tests for assurance (obedience, love, and confessing Christ), we cannot evaluate our lives without first exposing them (1 John 1:5-2:2). And we’ll never be comfortable with exposure unless we know 3 things.

1. God’s nature is to expose

John’s message is simple: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Any hint of darkness is incompatible with this God who is light. God is not like light or with the light. He is light; it’s his nature to be light, to shine light.

James Wheeler (2013), Creative Commons

What does light do? It shines in the darkness, but the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:5). When God—light—is in the picture, there is nowhere to hide. There is no such thing as “under cover of darkness.” God is a constant illuminator. He is the great exposer. You can’t know God and avoid the light. You can’t be a Christian and keep parts of your life hidden in the dark.

2. We don’t respond well to exposure

The fact that God illuminates and exposes rightly terrifies. So we use a few tactics to cope with this God-light.

Tactic #1: Shore up our defenses

We say we have fellowship with God, but walk in darkness (1 John 1:6). In other words, we talk a lot about God, but very little about ourselves. We love the sentiments of a relationship with God (love, joy, peace, etc.), but we hate the threat of total disclosure.

For example, I’ve always struggled with my weight and body image, and I hate myself for it. I want to keep this part of my life tucked in a dark corner never to come out. I spend too much time in front of the mirror…until someone else walks into the bathroom. Then I’m happy to pretend I wasn’t fixated on my appearance.

How will we ever come out of hiding? John gives both motivation and power (1 John 1:7):

Motivation: We have fellowship with one another.
Power: The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

It’s worth it to walk in the light.

Tactic #2: Deny our sinfulness

We say we have no sin (1 John 1:8). In other words, we talk a lot about ourselves, but very little about God and his view of sin. We see ourselves as “nice,” “innocent,” or even “good.” We deny that our fundamental identity apart from Christ is “sinner.”

For example, I don’t see myself as a “glutton”; I just like food. I’m not “greedy”; I like my hobbies. I’m not a “gossip”; I’m merely concerned about the situation.

How will we ever acknowledge the truth? John reminds us that God is both faithful and just (1 John 1:9):

Faithful: He has promised to forgive those who confess their sin, and he must keep his word.
Just: Jesus paid for those who trust in him, so God must forgive them when they turn.

Because the faithful and just God already executed his wrath on his Son for you, you are free to label things accurately. The Bible calls such labeling “confession.”

Tactic #3: Refuse to change

We say we have not sinned (1 John 1:10). In other words, we talk a lot about what we did right, but very little about what we did wrong. The difference between tactics 2 and 3 is the difference between general and particular. This third tactic represents a move from the broad “I’m not a sinner” to the specific “This thing I did was not sin.”

For example, it might be easy for me to admit being a prideful person. But if I never ‘fess up to specific instances where I have acted pridefully, I haven’t yet begun walking in the light. I must connect recent behaviors with long-standing patterns. I must take ownership to search and destroy the issue in my life, without waiting for others to point it out to me.

How will we ever be free to stop defending ourselves and make changes? John reminds us that we already have a double defense in Jesus (1 John 2:1-2).

3. Jesus defends the exposed

John doesn’t want us to sin, but if anyone does sin, we have two lines of defense. If we don’t feel the need to defend ourselves, we might be willing to risk true exposure.

As a defense attorney

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). An advocate argues for the accused before the judge. God, the great judge, the exposer of all people, allows only one attorney into his courtroom. If you have Jesus, you have one who pleads for you—not because you are righteous, but because he is.

As a defense barrier

He is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). A propitiation is a defense barrier. Jesus is like the bulletproof vest that prevents rounds of ammunition from penetrating your vital organs. He is like a baseball glove that absorbs the shock from the foul ball that almost knocked you silly.

Every time you sin and face exposure, you rightly sense God’s displeasure hurtling toward you. And every time, Jesus still deflects the blow. Not by dying again (that happened only once for all), but by reminding the Father of his death and by pleading your case.

You can’t have acquittal without a trial. You can’t have a trial without a defendant. You can’t have a defendant without charges of wrongdoing. You can’t have charges of wrongdoing without exposure. Thus, we must be exposed before we can be acquitted.

It usually doesn’t feel good, but what could be better for you?