1st John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The confession spoken of in the passage above isn’t a mere acknowledgement that one has sinned. It is not merely feeling bad about our sins, nor is it the calling of sin by its right name. All of these are good, but they must be coupled together with a deliberate choice to do God’s revealed will. In the Bible several examples of confession are given with nuances and twists that must be sorted out to be able to differentiate between the genuine, and the insincere.
It is God’s will that all should come to repentance, meaning that after whatever is said and done through confession it should be translated into living in harmony with God. Anything short of this will render confession a mere ritual that comes from a heart that is not yet willing to surrender to God, and wherever this is the case, a person will relapse into doing that which was done before, or even worse than previously.
Multiple attempts at erroneous confession renders the heart harder to reach the next time around, and it could reach a point where it could be very difficult to experience the end product, of living in harmony with God’s revealed will. Again, there may still be hope for a person who may be caught red handed in sinning, and who, because of the particular circumstance, may be forced into a confession that may seem to be insincere.
1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!