Devotional from Pastor Tim

Confession is good for the soul. Most of us have heard that phrase many times. But it raises an important question: What is confession, really?

At its core, confession simply means to agree with God, to say the same thing God says. If confession is agreeing with God, then we have to ask: What does God actually say? What does He say about us? What does He say about sin? The gospel tells us something incredible. Through Jesus, you have been made a brand-new creation, and you have been completely forgiven. Not partially forgiven. Not forgiven on a trial basis. Totally forgiven, once for all.

So when we talk about confession, it’s important to understand that we’re not confessing in order to get forgiven. We confess because we are forgiven.

In John 16, Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit is coming. He calls Him the Comforter, the One who will remind them of everything He has taught. And then Jesus says something very important: the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, but for the believer, He convicts us of righteousness. Think about that. The Spirit of God isn’t constantly reminding you how sinful you are. He’s reminding you who you are in Christ. He’s pointing you back to your righteousness, what Jesus has already accomplished for you.

That means the greater confession for the believer isn’t rehearsing how much we’ve sinned. The greater confession is agreeing with God that, no matter how many sins we’ve committed, they’ve already been forgiven. That God still loves us. That we are still righteous in Christ. Why? Because there is nothing you can do to undo what God has already done.

So confession is not about begging God to forgive you again and again. It’s about agreeing with Him. It’s about saying what He says about you—that you are forgiven, that you are righteous, and that you are a brand-new creation in Christ. When we agree with God about what Jesus has already accomplished, that truth brings freedom to our hearts and rest to our souls. 

Acts 13:38-39 Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

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