The Christian Perspective

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” – 1 John 1:101 John 1:10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. occasion...: Gr. scandal  

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Confession is the first step toward defeating sin.

It is often true that the hardest part of dealing with a problem is admitting that you have one.

Beginning with Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:11-13Gen. 3:11-13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? ¹² And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. ¹³ And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.  

WP-Bible plugin), people have denied responsibility for their sins, and our generation is no exception.

To acknowledge that one is a sinner, guilty of breaking God’s holy law, is not popular. People call sin by a myriad of other names, futilely hoping to define it out of existence.

They do so, motivated by their innate awareness that there is a moral law and that there are consequences for violating it (Rom. 1:32Rom. 1:32
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. have...: or, consent with  

WP-Bible plugin). But God’s people have always recognized the necessity of confession.

After committing the terrible sins of adultery and murder, David acknowledged to Nathan the prophet, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:132 Sam. 12:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.  

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Later he cried out to God, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight” (Ps. 51:3-4Ps. 51:3-4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. ⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  

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Faced with a vision of the awesome majesty and holiness of God, Isaiah declared, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5Isa. 6:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. undone: Heb. cut off  

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Daniel was a man of unparalleled integrity, yet part of his prayer life involved confessing his sin (Dan. 9:20Dan. 9:20
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;  

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Peter, the acknowledged leader of the apostles, said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8Luke 5:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  

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The apostle Paul, the godliest man who ever lived (except for Jesus Christ), wrote this about himself: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Tim. 1:151 Tim. 1:15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.  

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The examples of those godly men illustrate a fundamental biblical truth: constant confession of sin characterizes true Christians (1 John 1:91 John 1:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

WP-Bible plugin). Those who claim to be believers but refuse to confess their sins deceive themselves (1 John 1:81 John 1:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  

WP-Bible plugin) and make God a liar (1 John 1:101 John 1:10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. occasion...: Gr. scandal  

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Suggestions for Prayer:

Confess and forsake your sins today, and experience the blessedness of God’s forgiveness (Prov. 28:13Prov. 28:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  

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