GENUINE CONFESSION LEADS TO GENUINE MERCY

 

Prov 28:13

Charles Bridges wrote as it relates to mans sin and God’s redemption, “God and man each cover sin; God in unbounded grace; man in shame and hypocrisy.” Sin separates you from everything that is good, Holy, and right, before a holy God. Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God and rebellion against God. Sin had its beginning with Lucifer, probably the most beautiful and powerful of all the angels. Lucifer, not content with his position, he desired to be higher than God, and that was his downfall, the beginning of sin. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.”  Isaiah 14:12-15. Renamed Satan, he brought sin to the human race in the Garden of Eden, where he tempted Adam and Eve with the same enticement, “Did God actually say” and would end saying “…you shall be like God.” Genesis 3:1-5

 

Sin is like cancer, and if we do not deal with it

quickly or seek help, it will kill you.

 

In our text of Scripture today… we have man's covering, which is worthless and responsible, and God's covering, which is profitable and worthy of all acceptance. This is exactly what happened when Adam fell from grace. No sooner had man disobeyed God’s will in the garden of Eden, he discovered to his surprise and dismay that he was naked, and he set about at once to make himself a covering. In Genesis 3:7 we read, “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” What did they do? We read, “And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” Gen 3:7-8

 

God came in, revealed to them their nakedness, “But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Gen3:9-11

 

This question led Adam to pass the buck onto Eve, in covering up his sin, which led to Eve passing the buck to say, “The Devil made me do it.”. The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Gen 3:12-13

 

This is man’s way of confession and it only leads to destruction, man cannot confess properly without a proper sacrifice for mans sin. Its here man tries to clean up their mess, but only make things worse for themselves and the rest of humanity. So, what does God do? “And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Gen 3:21. Probably the coats were made of the skins of animals which had been offered in sacrifice. So, this reveals to us that they were provided a right sacrifice for their sins by God, a sin-offering and a robe of perfect righteousness. Every person since the days of Adam’s fall, has gone through much of the same experience, more or less relying on his/her own cleverness to hide their sinful life. Paul wrote, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” Rom 5:12. The phrase "all have sinned in Adam" is a theological term, stating that all of humanity became sinful because of Adam's original transgression. Adam, and fallen mankind, has discovered that sin has made him naked, and he has set to work to clothe himself.

How great is this fall?

 

Before the Fall, there was no lust, lying, pride, selfishness, anger, hostility, or perversion. Adam and Eve lived in a pure, sin-free environment. These two were perfectly innocent until the day they broke that one commandment. One theologian put it this way. “This nearly flawless couple was banished forever from the Garden. A global curse was unleashed filling the earth with thorns, poisonous plants, diseased soil and barren land. Far worse were the long-term consequences exacted upon mankind. Sickness and disease permeated the human race. Death stalked man. And worst of all, man’s inherent nature became predisposed toward desiring sin. For all intents and purposes, man joined in Satan’s rebellion against the Creator that day. All of this came out of one act of disobedience.”

 

This is where the deception lives and fallen men

are in great danger. Why?

 

Whenever we… justify, excuse, or deny our sin, or blame others for it, we decline the blessing that could have been available to us if we had simply "confessed”. To take responsibility for our sin, confess it, and turn from it, brings the blessing of mercy, through forgiveness and healing that comes from genuine repentance. But, to ignore and suppress our sins, and to shrug them off, is to be playing a dangerous game of cops and robbers.

 

THE FOOLISH TREATMENT OF OUR SINS.

 

A fool's treatment of sin is characterized by making light of it, dismissing its seriousness, and even mocking it. Prov 14:9 states, “Fools mock at the guilt offering” Whether the sin is their own or others; they make light of them, call evil good, and good evil; they take pleasure in doing them themselves, and in those that do them. This attitude stems from a lack of reverence for God, a flawed understanding of their own sinful nature, and a failure to grasp the severe consequences of sin. Instead of treating sin with abhorrence and seeking atonement, the fool sees it as insignificant or even a source of amusement. Sin loves to lie to us; it convinces us that hiding is best. We can do just fine all by ourselves. Its this mindset that says to themselves, “Repentance is not worth it, it will only lead to bad things if I confess and turn.”

 

Have you been there?

Carrying around the weight of secret sin?

 

It can be easy for us to trick ourselves into thinking, “Nobody has to know. This isn’t really hurting anyone.” This how your sins will blind you to the light of God, because darkness will always try and swallow up the Light. How could this so-called sin, be so bad when it feels so good and I am happy. This how the Alphabet mafia deal with the conscious of unconfessed sin, every time the protest against what the Bible says. This is the same for the Atheist or Satanist, Progressive so-called Christian church, when their sin has been exposed to the Light of God’s Word. They cancel out the truth, for the lie; so they can continue in rebellious behaviour by feeding on the darkness. But darkness cannot swallow up the Light, as Jesus said, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:18-21

 

This serves as a reminder to live transparently and righteously, as all things will one day be brought to light. This is why when you heart as been pricked with God’s truth, you must turn and repent or you will like wise perish in your sin. This is what we call the “Weight Of Sin” What does that look like? Your laying in bed staring up at the ceiling in the middle of the night, your heart began to pound as you wrestle with unconfessed sin and it terrifies you of the consequences if people found out. You continue to carry this heavy burden of sin around with you, because you don’t see any other way. To continue this way would mean your death. But in your mind turning back would also bring death.

So, you carry this heavy weight of sin by ignoring it, you become numb to it over time. its here unconfessed sin and the weight it carries can be equal to leprosy, because Leprosy affects the nervous system. It gradually numbs the person’s extremities to the point at which pain is no longer felt. One would think “having no more pain would be good.” Rightfully so, if you were getting a tooth drilled and filled, or if you were having surgery, or giving birth… You wouldn’t want to feel the pain.

 

But what if that feeling of pain never

came back ever?

 

Because that’s the warning here, it’s not about riches, or prosperity, it’s about the value of your eternal life, your eternal state before a holy God. It’s in this deception you’re not seeing the wrath of God over sin, your numb to His judgments. See, it would be very difficult to chew your food without realizing you are doing possible damage to your mouth, or tongue. Or you had no more feeling in your leg after surgery, you would never really know if it’s healed properly. 

See, pain serves a purpose! So does our sin, its our spouse to warn us of something greater.

Pain tells a child not to touch a hot stove.

Pain tells a carpenter to aim skillfully with a hammer.

Pain tells the driver to say in your lane or you will be hurt really bad the next time.

Pain tells you have something wrong with your body, so do something about it.

Pain warns and guides you. And that’s the problem with Leprosy.

 

Your loss all feeling to pain is tragic; and sin does the same thing to the Christian who conceals his or her transgressions. “Conceal” means “To prevent something from being seen or known about. It implies an intentional act of hiding something, either physically or by keeping information or feelings secret. This includes: hide, screen, stash, bury, camouflage, cloak, and mask. To biblically conceal means “hiding one's sin and the divine act of concealing or revealing information.” Hiding sin, by contrast, hinders finding mercy, whereas confession and renunciation lead to compassion. “Transgression” means “An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense. We call this an infringement of a command, duty, or principle. This can refer to minor infractions, such as a student breaking a school rule, or serious crimes, such as felony. A transgression is often equal with a sin, an act against God's will or divine law. The biblical understanding emphasizes a betrayal of trust in a relationship, whether between people or with God. It is absolutely a waste of effort and time to conceal your transgressions from an all-knowing God. As David sung, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139:1-4

 

Having a numbness to your sins is more horrible than leprosy and I’m not minimizing how terrible that is. As John Owen wrote in his book “The Mortification of Sin” where he is famously quoted for saying, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you” What does it look like when sin kills you? Raynold the 3rd, a fourteenth-century duke. Who was grossly overweight was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means “fat. “After a violent quarrel, Raynold’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. Edward captured his older brother, but did not kill him. Instead, he built a room around him in the castle and promised him he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room. This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near-normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynold’s size, and to regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight. But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, he grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.” He stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year … a prisoner of his own appetite.”

 

This is why we should be killing, confessing our sins to God!

Sin is deceitful “but exhort one another daily, while it is called "TODAY," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Heb 3:13

 

Sin is dehumanizing……sin dismantles relationships and corrupts the human soul. The less we bear the image of God due to the presence of sin, the less human we really are.

 

Sin is damning…..the greatest threat to the soul is sin. Sin threatens the eternal soul of the unsaved. Sin leads to death and judgement and eternal punishment in Hell.

 

Sin is a deadly killer and it will not stop until it has consumed whatever it attaches itself to. And our responsibility is to one another, keeping each other accountable for how we live our Christian lives, and to be aware of the sin that lurks around the corner when we least expect it. We are never to hide the things that could harm us the most, and that goes for relationships and the local church. To conceal one’s sin is to struggle with the power of the conscience. Kevin DeYoung said “The biggest threat to the church in any generation is not the government, not some other religion, nor enemies of the faith. It's us with our own waywardness, our own wandering, our own hard heartedness, and our own love affair with sin.”

 

THE WISE TREATMENT OF OUR SINS.

 

Go to him with sin, and then heed the words of James, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:8-10. We need each other not for forgiveness before God, but we need each other in our fight against sin, in our own lives. We need others who pray for us, who encourage us in our struggles with sin, and help us forsake them, help us turn from that sin.

 

Do you want to experience the goodness of God in your life? Then don’t hide sin in your life. God has been pleased to deal with His own people, according to the riches of His grace. How? By covering our shame and to put away our sins that they should not be remembered any more. This is only possible though the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. 

Charles Spurgeon said, “The atonement was made before the sin was committed. The righteousness was presented even before we had lived. “Thou hast covered all their sin.” It seems to me as if the Lamb of God, slain from before the foundation of the world, had in the purpose of God, from the foundation of the world, covered all his people's sins. Therefore, we are accepted the Beloved, and dear to the Father's heart. Oh! what a joy it is to get a hold of something like this truth, especially when the truth gets a hold of you—when you can feel by the inwrought power and witness of the Holy Ghost that your sins are covered—that you dare stand up before a rein-trying, heart-searching God, and give thanks that every transgression you ever committed is hid from the view of those piercing eyes through Jesus Christ your Lord.”

 

Its this reality and truth where we confess

and find mercy for our souls.

 

Spurgeon would go on to say, “Beloved, the covering is as broad as the sin. The covering completely covers and for ever covers; for as God sees to-day no sin in those who are washed in Jesus' blood, so will he never see any. You are accepted with an acceptance that nothing can change. Whom once he loves he never leaves, but loves them to the end. The reason of his love to them does not lie in their merits nor their charms; the cause of love is in himself. The ground of his acceptance of them is in the person and work of Christ. Whatever they may be, whatever their condition of heart may be, they are accepted because Christ lived and died. It is not a precarious or a conditional, but an eternal acceptance.”

 

That is the mercy and grace that is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, so confess your sins before him and receive this mercy from God. “Mercy” is God withholding punishment by offering forgiveness, by showing mercy, and compassion to those who don’t deserve it. Don’t buy the lie that concealing your sin will make you happy. It won’t. Only genuine biblical forgiveness will.

 

Only in Jesus will your deepest longings be fulfilled.

 

The only way to truly prosper is living in genuine repentance. Repentance is turning away from something to Jesus. The specific language used in this verse is forsaking. (v13) We don’t receive God’s mercy and blessing simply by saying “I’m sorry.” We receive His blessing and mercy when we turn completely away from it, leaving it behind. You win the battle on the inside and you will enjoy a clear conscience. You will enjoy the peace, the quietness, the rest, the rejoicing, the deep gladness of a quiet conscience. Notice also, prospering is held in parallel with receiving mercy; meaning that obtaining this mercy is how Christians truly live the good life, as defined by Scripture….holy and acceptable.

 

John wrote in his first epistle, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. The believer’s desire is fellowship daily with God, not running away or avoiding the issue when we have fallen to the sin of choice. I like what John R. W. Stott wrote, “Sin and the child of God are incompatible. They may occasionally meet; they cannot live together in harmony.”

 

The true believer seeks harmony, seeks this fellowship, and if they have broken fellowship, he or she will do whatever it takes to restore it. Confess our sins because He, is faithful, and just, to forgive us through the finished work of Christ. “Repentance” means: “comings to a right mind; "a sense of regret" an uneasiness of feeling at the past or present, and is applied even to the remorse. Sorrow for anything done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct.” If you confess your sin with a repentant and broken heart, and forsaking every evil way; the Bible says “you shall attain mercy” and deliverance from God. Matt 5:7. This only comes from a deep regretful, humble acknowledgement of one’s sin, this is forsaking our sins. “Forsaking our sins” is a conscious decision to abandon sinful behaviors and to actively pursue a righteous life, a process often described as the practical outworking of repentance. Through a changed of heart and mind that leads to a change in conduct, accompanied by confession. When we forsake our sins the mercy of God breaks through the clouds, quickening the soul into new life, and restoration. The Scriptures call believers to this daily….”confess and forsake” because one leak may sink a ship, one sin may damn the soul.”