Those who have not previously thought of confession as being one of the spiritual disciplines – an activity that enables us to do what we cannot do by our own direct effort and places us in the right position for being changed – may now be wondering just how to go about making it a daily practice.
First, it’s important that we realize that we must be genuine in our confession. God is not looking for lip service but an agreement of the heart. Don’t be hypocritical in your confession. Genuineness of heart is what matters most.
Second, just as with all the other disciplines – Bible reading, prayer, gratitude, solitude – regularity is crucial. Make it an ongoing practice to confess your sins to God, both privately and corporately when you gather for your church’s worship service.
And as you go about incorporating confession into your daily practice, remember the importance of confessing your sins to others – for the sake of reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24), for mutual edification (James 5:16), and to be reminded of the truth of the gospel.
Again, as with all the different spiritual disciplines, periodic opportunities for reflection and evaluation help spur our growth. Consider the following indicators of genuine confession when you sit to reflect and evaluate.
7 Indicators of Genuine Confession
1. GENUINE CONFESSION IS ACCOMPANIED BY REPENTANCE
In Acts 3:19 we read, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Clearly, from this we understand that to receive God’s forgiveness, repentance is required.
Repentance is determination to live our life differently. Confession is not genuine unless it is accompanied by determination to obey God and follow His will.
2. GENUINE CONFESSION IS SPECIFIC
Leviticus 5:5 says, “when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed….” From this we learn that we are to be specific in our confession. It’s much easier to be vague and noncommittal when we confess, but this is not what the Lord requires. To be sure, we need not give every detail, but our confession must be specific enough to clarify the nature of our sin.
3. GENUINE CONFESSION INCLUDES MOTIVES
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.
Matthew 15:18-20a
Not only do we need to be specific in our confession, our confession should go to the heart of the issue. When you confess, probe deeply. Ask yourself what motivated the sin. Sinful actions are often merely the symptom of something deeper. Confession that is true requires the “why.”
4. GENUINE CONFESSION IS ACCOMPANIED BY GODLY SORROW
In 2 Corinthians 7:10 we read, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” There is a world of difference between admitting fault or error and feeling remorse over it. (Note that we are talking about remorse over the sin not remorse in getting caught!)
The sorrow God seeks is one of disgust at having sinned against a holy God and deep regret at having offended our Father in heaven.
5. GENUINE CONFESSION REMEMBERS THE GOSPEL
For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
True confession demonstrates an understanding that God’s forgiveness is offered to us solely on the ground of the death of His Son. We must not be so thoroughly introspective during our confession that we forget to look outside ourselves to God and His lavish mercy in Christ. Genuine confession includes acknowledgement that we are a sinner, and that by our sin, we participated in nailing Jesus to the cross. It also recognizes that forgiveness is only possible because of Christ’s atoning death on the cross.
6. GENUINE CONFESSION IS FOLLOWED BY INTERCESSORY PRAYER
We confess our sins to God in prayer. Suitably, a true confession follows this with a prayer of supplication. We pour our hearts out in confession. Then ask God for forgiveness and help in not repeating the sin. This follow-up prayer moves us from the negative (our act of sin) to the positive (looking for God’s help in our struggle not to fail again).
7. GENUINE CONFESSION RESULTS IN AN EXPERIENCE OF FORGIVENESS
David’s example is a good one for us here (Psalm 51.) Confession, from the heart, made as it considers God’s promises in Scripture, should lead us into the joy of forgiveness. Our delight and contentment in Christ and His gospel should, therefore, be increased.
If confession as a spiritual discipline is new to you, you might want to check out Capitol Hill Baptist Church’s core seminar on the topic. Much that I have learned as come from there.
