Together # 33
A Together that Heals
A Together that Heals
Confess Sins to One Another
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Tell each other your sins so healing can begin to take place. Confess only when a person or group has proven to be safe.
Acts 19:18-20; Romans 3:23; James 5:16
The confession of our sins to one another is one of the most ignored and disobeyed instructions of Scripture. It is pretty clear what confessing our sins means. But, what is not so understandable in light of salvation is why we resist it so much.
The sins of believers have been paid for. As such, it should be easy to admit them. God invites us to simply confess our sins and receive forgiveness. If we really want to scrub ourselves clean, we would look for things out of sync with God’s will and eagerly confess them.
Then we need to act regarding the confessed sin. God’s part of forgiveness is done, but our part of repentance is just beginning. The elimination of some sins is rather simple, but others can be quite difficult and eventually require confessing them to others so that they can help.
For an example of a “quick fix”, let’s say one of us decides to be funny and burns a dollar bill. When it is realized that the money we have belongs to God, confession of sinning would be offered to God and forgiveness granted. It would be simple and easy to never, ever burn another dollar bill again.
But, the desire to get other people’s attention no matter what the cost might have been behind the burning of the dollar. That sin of caring so much to have people like us that we do ungodly things will probably not go away easily. Confession to God will be enough for forgiveness, but not for eliminating that sin from our lives. This requires a process of repentance, a turning from and eliminating the specific sin.
We most likely confess a few of our most obvious sins to God, but we want to stop there. We think that since only God can forgive sins, it is only He to whom we are to confess. And that is true with sins that are easy to eradicate.
But, for persistent sins, an additional confession is commanded in Scripture. It’s purpose is to get help from other Christians to heal our spirits by getting rid of the old self and expanding the new self. Confessing to one another opens the avenue for spiritual healing after the cleansing of forgiveness from God.
The sins of believers have been paid for. As such, it should be easy to admit them. God invites us to simply confess our sins and receive forgiveness. If we really want to scrub ourselves clean, we would look for things out of sync with God’s will and eagerly confess them.
Then we need to act regarding the confessed sin. God’s part of forgiveness is done, but our part of repentance is just beginning. The elimination of some sins is rather simple, but others can be quite difficult and eventually require confessing them to others so that they can help.
For an example of a “quick fix”, let’s say one of us decides to be funny and burns a dollar bill. When it is realized that the money we have belongs to God, confession of sinning would be offered to God and forgiveness granted. It would be simple and easy to never, ever burn another dollar bill again.
But, the desire to get other people’s attention no matter what the cost might have been behind the burning of the dollar. That sin of caring so much to have people like us that we do ungodly things will probably not go away easily. Confession to God will be enough for forgiveness, but not for eliminating that sin from our lives. This requires a process of repentance, a turning from and eliminating the specific sin.
We most likely confess a few of our most obvious sins to God, but we want to stop there. We think that since only God can forgive sins, it is only He to whom we are to confess. And that is true with sins that are easy to eradicate.
But, for persistent sins, an additional confession is commanded in Scripture. It’s purpose is to get help from other Christians to heal our spirits by getting rid of the old self and expanding the new self. Confessing to one another opens the avenue for spiritual healing after the cleansing of forgiveness from God.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
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James 5:13-16
We need healing both physically and spiritually. Both sometimes require confession of sin to one another.
The process of healing usually starts by experiencing the warning signal of guilt. This feeling can arise from our conscience, our internal sense of right and wrong. But, this helpful guilt can be increased by Bible study which brings increased knowledge of God’s purity. When guilt signals to us where we have gone against God’s will, it is good. It is not meant to weaken us, but a feeling to signal a sin that can lead to strength if confessed and then conquered.
Guilt-identified sin that is confessed to God with a conviction of sorrow and regret is forgiven and suddenly gone. That is the first step.
The process of healing usually starts by experiencing the warning signal of guilt. This feeling can arise from our conscience, our internal sense of right and wrong. But, this helpful guilt can be increased by Bible study which brings increased knowledge of God’s purity. When guilt signals to us where we have gone against God’s will, it is good. It is not meant to weaken us, but a feeling to signal a sin that can lead to strength if confessed and then conquered.
Guilt-identified sin that is confessed to God with a conviction of sorrow and regret is forgiven and suddenly gone. That is the first step.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience . . . .
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Hebrews 10:19-22
Second, with the draining emotion of guilt gone, we want to remember what sin was identified to be eliminated. If that sin is a recurring part of our lives, we need to work on getting rid of it. Therefore, we ask God to help us and He sends us two powers for eliminating the sin from our lives. Scripture indicates that both are necessary.
First, the Holy Spirit’s help is made available to us. We then need to yield to His power in our lives, especially to let the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow out of us.
First, the Holy Spirit’s help is made available to us. We then need to yield to His power in our lives, especially to let the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow out of us.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:22-23 (ESV)
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:22-23 (ESV)
We need to bring these supernatural powers that are never against the law of God to bear against the sin that has been forgiven but still needs to be extinguished. It behooves us to ask in prayer which of the fruit are most in opposition to the sin in question and to do all we can to surrender to that power of the Holy Spirit in us. (As we heard in the movie Star Wars, “Let the force be with you.” That was a puny force of fantasy compared to the real power of the fruit of the Spirit.)
The second power God makes available to help us conquer sin in our lives is the help of His people. That help begins with the confession of sin to one another and is followed by many of the other Togethers as they apply. Yes, it is God’s plan to not do it all for us, no matter how much we want it that way. It would be easier for us if God just worked miracles and released us from sins that stick to us. But, by requiring us to work together to eliminate sin in one another, Jesus builds His church and we each individually become purer in our faith.
Private sin is hidden and cannot be overcome. Secret sin persists. Confession of sins to one another sets off a process that leads to many of the other "Togethers" that can bring change and healing. Friends, family members and spouses dedicated to putting the Bible into practice will discern from the confession of another what further actions are ordered by Scripture. This will most likely include warning and admonishing, prayer for God's help to accomplish repentance, Bible study to discover correct ways of behaving and thinking, encouragement to obey, and a host of other "Togethers." Only closer Christian relationships can remember to assure that progress is being made in areas of confessed sin. This cannot be done in larger or less tenacious groups.
The first order of business is for God’s people to create safe environments for the confession of sins in each Christian friendship group, every Christian family, and all marriages in a believer’s Christian Inner Circle. Gossip and rumors about one another’s sins cannot happen. Christians are already far too shut down in telling one another their sins so that they can be helped to overcome them. Therefore, a verbal commitment to confidentiality within each group is absolutely necessary.
Then, all others in each Christian friendship, family and marriage must regularly confess sin and, in so doing, prove that it is safe to do so. Individuals will feel most free to admit their grievous mistakes and sins in the company of others willing to also be so vulnerable. It can take only one resistant person to such confession to shut the door to helping one another overcome sin. If such a person’s fear cannot be overlooked and confession still go on, then it might be necessary to confess only when that person is absent or to limit that person’s access to the friendship. In a Christian family or marriage, such resistance needs to be ignored. This is an instruction of Scripture that cannot be negated by one person’s discomfort.
It is also very important to have available time in close Christian relationships for admission of sins. The friendships, families and marriages of believers must have “down time” when there is no activity with which to compete, time when others can bring up anything on their mind.
Confessing our sins to one another is so important. We need to do it more and more.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
The second power God makes available to help us conquer sin in our lives is the help of His people. That help begins with the confession of sin to one another and is followed by many of the other Togethers as they apply. Yes, it is God’s plan to not do it all for us, no matter how much we want it that way. It would be easier for us if God just worked miracles and released us from sins that stick to us. But, by requiring us to work together to eliminate sin in one another, Jesus builds His church and we each individually become purer in our faith.
Private sin is hidden and cannot be overcome. Secret sin persists. Confession of sins to one another sets off a process that leads to many of the other "Togethers" that can bring change and healing. Friends, family members and spouses dedicated to putting the Bible into practice will discern from the confession of another what further actions are ordered by Scripture. This will most likely include warning and admonishing, prayer for God's help to accomplish repentance, Bible study to discover correct ways of behaving and thinking, encouragement to obey, and a host of other "Togethers." Only closer Christian relationships can remember to assure that progress is being made in areas of confessed sin. This cannot be done in larger or less tenacious groups.
The first order of business is for God’s people to create safe environments for the confession of sins in each Christian friendship group, every Christian family, and all marriages in a believer’s Christian Inner Circle. Gossip and rumors about one another’s sins cannot happen. Christians are already far too shut down in telling one another their sins so that they can be helped to overcome them. Therefore, a verbal commitment to confidentiality within each group is absolutely necessary.
Then, all others in each Christian friendship, family and marriage must regularly confess sin and, in so doing, prove that it is safe to do so. Individuals will feel most free to admit their grievous mistakes and sins in the company of others willing to also be so vulnerable. It can take only one resistant person to such confession to shut the door to helping one another overcome sin. If such a person’s fear cannot be overlooked and confession still go on, then it might be necessary to confess only when that person is absent or to limit that person’s access to the friendship. In a Christian family or marriage, such resistance needs to be ignored. This is an instruction of Scripture that cannot be negated by one person’s discomfort.
It is also very important to have available time in close Christian relationships for admission of sins. The friendships, families and marriages of believers must have “down time” when there is no activity with which to compete, time when others can bring up anything on their mind.
Confessing our sins to one another is so important. We need to do it more and more.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Grandpa and Grandma are in their 70's and know that they are traveling the final miles to heaven. Their lifestyles are shrinking as their bodies give out in one way after another. They are considering heaven more and more.
With this new perspective, Grandpa and Grandma are understanding the instructions of Scripture as the very ways of heaven. And, they realize that all of their long Christian lives they have only applied those ways in fashions that are easy and comfortable. For example, they have confessed to each other simple sins like eating too much. But, they have rarely followed the instruction of James 5:16 to confess more difficult sins to each other and open the doors for healing their spirits that will soon journey to heaven. Grandpa and Grandma are trying to make up lost time in conforming to the image of Jesus. Finally understanding that they have had nothing to gain by self-satisfaction, they now are searching for at least one great deficiency in their character each week. Looking more carefully at who Jesus is through Bible study, they confess to each other how they fall short of righteousness. Then they pray for one another’s change through obedient love for God in thoughts, feelings and attitudes as well as their actions. |
We cannot become more like Jesus by confessing our sins to one another. Jesus had no sins to confess, so He never had to do this. This is the only one of the 65 Togethers that Jesus did not do in some way or other. Even the Together “Face Discipline and Judgment Together” was done by Jesus when He took our judgment upon Himself on the cross.
However, confession of sins to one another begins a process of getting to the point where we no longer commit that sin. Every time we eliminate a sin from our lives for all future time, we become a little more like the perfect Christ. Not confessing our sins to one another keeps us from transforming more into the image of Jesus, the very reason we are still on this pain-filled earth rather than in heaven.
However, confession of sins to one another begins a process of getting to the point where we no longer commit that sin. Every time we eliminate a sin from our lives for all future time, we become a little more like the perfect Christ. Not confessing our sins to one another keeps us from transforming more into the image of Jesus, the very reason we are still on this pain-filled earth rather than in heaven.
For those God foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29
This is why confession of sin to one another must be with the intention of stopping, not merely being forgiven. God is gracious to forgive our sins when we simply confess them to Him. But, we need to be gracious to God by confessing to one another in order to begin the process of ending that sin’s existence in our lives. We should not stop until even the devil’s temptation toward that sin falls on deaf ears.
Another Together tells us God expects us to hate sin together. One of the most important internal sins to hate is that of pride. Pride, wanting to see ourselves in superior light, blinds us to recognizing how we are not like Jesus. Pride cuts off confession of sins, especially to one another. Such is Satan’s strategy, to make us think we are good enough. It is very dishonoring to God to minimize our sinfulness. Only God has no sins to confess.
Another Together tells us God expects us to hate sin together. One of the most important internal sins to hate is that of pride. Pride, wanting to see ourselves in superior light, blinds us to recognizing how we are not like Jesus. Pride cuts off confession of sins, especially to one another. Such is Satan’s strategy, to make us think we are good enough. It is very dishonoring to God to minimize our sinfulness. Only God has no sins to confess.
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, who ever takes the lowly position of this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:3-4
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, who ever takes the lowly position of this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:3-4
One application is that we are to be like children who get caught with their hands in the cookie bag and simply say, “I’m sorry.” And, like us in other ways, those little children need to learn to not even think about taking cookies without permission.
Far too late in my Christian life I realized that I did not gain anything by ignoring my vast sinfulness. Up to that point, I was satisfied to know that I did not think about or do any of the “big sins”. I did not curse God, consider adultery, or even rob a bank. It was quite liberating to drop my guard to admitting so many other ways that I was not like my Savior. I found it helpful to use a bit of humor and give myself an extra middle name: Dick “Filthy-Rags” Wulf, applying Isaiah 64:6.
Far too late in my Christian life I realized that I did not gain anything by ignoring my vast sinfulness. Up to that point, I was satisfied to know that I did not think about or do any of the “big sins”. I did not curse God, consider adultery, or even rob a bank. It was quite liberating to drop my guard to admitting so many other ways that I was not like my Savior. I found it helpful to use a bit of humor and give myself an extra middle name: Dick “Filthy-Rags” Wulf, applying Isaiah 64:6.
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6.
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6.
Pride gives us a shaky self-image, a “house-of-cards” stability. It tries to convince us that we are on stable ground. But, we are not. The only secure ground to stand on is Christ’s righteousness. Trusting in the substitutionary death of Jesus is the start of standing on a firm foundation. Before belief, there was only the illusion of solid understructure.
But, now, every time we Christians admit and erase a sin, that ground under us becomes firmer. Our reputation does not depend upon making ourselves more than we are, but in making Jesus more of who we are. The choice is simple: do we want to be proud and inflate our goodness or do we want to become humble and access true goodness from Christ living in and through us?
Opportunity to Worship God
But, now, every time we Christians admit and erase a sin, that ground under us becomes firmer. Our reputation does not depend upon making ourselves more than we are, but in making Jesus more of who we are. The choice is simple: do we want to be proud and inflate our goodness or do we want to become humble and access true goodness from Christ living in and through us?
Opportunity to Worship God
Sally grew up in a very dysfunctional and poverty-stricken home. Her father was an abusive alcoholic. Sally was not doing well a short while ago. In the safety of one of her Christian friendships where others freely admit their sins, Sally finally shared her awful negative feelings about herself. She explained that she felt she was not as good as others, even though she knew the Bible said otherwise. Sally’s friends spent a year helping Sally leave behind her sin of low self-respect based on her father’s having not treated her as valuable when she was a child. They helped her adopt God’s view of her that in God's sight she is as worthwhile as any other. In doing so, this friendship group worshiped God by standing behind His wonderful design of Sally.
Sally has now begun setting her siblings free from poor self-esteem based on how they were treated as children. She hopes and prays that they will soon believe in God and His love for them. Sally, too, is worshiping God by representing Him as One without a drop of sin diluting His great unconditional love. |
Purifying our spirits honors God greatly. And, it all starts with the confession of sin.
God has given us forgiveness and Christ’s own righteousness that in close, trustworthy Christian relationships we might confess our sins to one another and get help for healing. The curative elimination of sins from our lives to become more like God is great worship. It indicates that His purity is worth pursuing, even to the point of replacing our pride with humility to expose our sinfulness to others and seek their help.
We can find dirty water coming out of our kitchen faucet and send it through a filter. The water becomes clean. This is like confessing sin to God to receive forgiveness and become momentarily clean. Filtering the water is not wrong, but why stop there? Dirty water will still come out until its cause is repaired. Otherwise, we have to filter again and again. Confession only to God is similar. We will be dirty again once that sin reoccurs.
There are some sins that are more deeply ingrained in us and don’t go away with just confessing them to God. Thankfully, some certainly go away easily. But most hang on. That is why God in Scripture tells us to confess our sins to one another to start a process of helping one another become more holy and perfect. This is like repairing the water line into the home and eliminating the source of the dirty water.
It ascribes great worth to God to seek out and eliminate sin in our lives. There are thousands of sins to eliminate from our thoughts and actions, and each one is an opportunity to worship God. But only if we eliminate them, one-by-one, from our deepest inner selves, our spirits. This begins by confessing each sin to God. Then, if it a sin that crops up again, we need to go to those in our Christian Inner Circles and confess that sin and ask for help in getting rid of it forever.
This whole process usually begins with Bible study and meditation to identify sins. The more we learn about God’s purity and His ways, the more we see the sin that we can take out of ourselves with one another’s help, beginning with confession.
When we receive a letter from someone we love, we see that person in the letter. If she says she enjoyed a certain movie, we automatically should know a little more about her likes. If he is disappointed that he caught no fish on a trip to the river, we naturally understand who he is regarding some of his hopes and dreams. Likewise, we should read our Bibles to know God better. Unfortunately, what seems to come instinctively is to learn Bible facts and doctrine and stop there. This is similar to just being able to tell that a friend liked a certain movie or that the friend was disappointed with his fishing trip and not seeing the person behind the fact. We do that to God all of the time.
For example, if we read “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul” from the beloved 23rd Psalm, we tend to focus on what God does for us. Even more important is to discover God in those verses. He is our shepherd who provides everything we need as well as other benefits from watches out for our welfare. We should also adopt into our world view that God is one who leads his people to rest and gives peace to revive us. This is who He is, and this is what is perfect.
Next, after seeing who God is and understanding His purity, we must look for how different we are and identify a sin that can be confronted.
For example, Psalm 23:1-3 can help us realize that we are dissatisfied with having only what we possess. We may have the sin of not accepting that we have all that God wants for us. We may want what others have or more of what the world makes available but God does not. We can also identify other sins that we need to confess and eliminate. Perhaps we refuse opportunities to rest or resist His wanting us to slow down and smell the roses. Perhaps we don’t let His peace fill us.
Let’s take the sin of not feeling satisfied with what we have in order to learn about the process of eliminating sin. First, we will confess to God that we from time to time do not think or act like we lack nothing and are dissatisfied with life and with Him. At that moment, we will be cleansed from that sin because of God’s graceful forgiveness. But, it may not be long before we experience displeasure and resentment again. So, this is a sin that needs to be taken to what we might call “second level confession”. First level is confessing to God and getting something for ourselves, forgiveness. But, second level confession is to give something to God – worship through repentance. Getting rid of the sin to any significant extent is done for God.
What father and mother who work hard to give their children food, clothing and shelter want to hear their children complain about not having a computer gaming system? So, how does God feel when we want more than He knows is good for us? Sure, the parents might have enough money for a PlayStation game system, but they don’t get one because they know it will draw their children away from succeeding in school. And God might not give us a Mercedes-Benz because He knows that we would drive it too fast and hurt someone or we might act better than someone else because we have a luxury car.
And, so, we implement second level confession to those in our Christian Inner Circles and thereby seek their help. Just going this far is worship. It tells God that at some level, we understand that he is worth changing for. Just imagine the honor if a child apologized for putting pressure on his parents for an X-Box (first level confession) and then asked his friends to help him not long for the gaming system (second level confession).
Now, after we ask our closest Christian friends for help in whatever form is needed to stop being dissatisfied with the house and car and food and recreational opportunities God has given us, those in our Christian Inner Circles need to step up and worship God by helping us through applicable Togethers. In our family example, the friends of the kid could help by letting him play at their house on their PlayStation, point out imperfections in the desired gaming system, redirect play to a sport or hobby, or point out that the parents must have a reason that can be respected.
Let’s confess to one another and worship God by working with other Christians to sins in our lives.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
God has given us forgiveness and Christ’s own righteousness that in close, trustworthy Christian relationships we might confess our sins to one another and get help for healing. The curative elimination of sins from our lives to become more like God is great worship. It indicates that His purity is worth pursuing, even to the point of replacing our pride with humility to expose our sinfulness to others and seek their help.
We can find dirty water coming out of our kitchen faucet and send it through a filter. The water becomes clean. This is like confessing sin to God to receive forgiveness and become momentarily clean. Filtering the water is not wrong, but why stop there? Dirty water will still come out until its cause is repaired. Otherwise, we have to filter again and again. Confession only to God is similar. We will be dirty again once that sin reoccurs.
There are some sins that are more deeply ingrained in us and don’t go away with just confessing them to God. Thankfully, some certainly go away easily. But most hang on. That is why God in Scripture tells us to confess our sins to one another to start a process of helping one another become more holy and perfect. This is like repairing the water line into the home and eliminating the source of the dirty water.
It ascribes great worth to God to seek out and eliminate sin in our lives. There are thousands of sins to eliminate from our thoughts and actions, and each one is an opportunity to worship God. But only if we eliminate them, one-by-one, from our deepest inner selves, our spirits. This begins by confessing each sin to God. Then, if it a sin that crops up again, we need to go to those in our Christian Inner Circles and confess that sin and ask for help in getting rid of it forever.
This whole process usually begins with Bible study and meditation to identify sins. The more we learn about God’s purity and His ways, the more we see the sin that we can take out of ourselves with one another’s help, beginning with confession.
When we receive a letter from someone we love, we see that person in the letter. If she says she enjoyed a certain movie, we automatically should know a little more about her likes. If he is disappointed that he caught no fish on a trip to the river, we naturally understand who he is regarding some of his hopes and dreams. Likewise, we should read our Bibles to know God better. Unfortunately, what seems to come instinctively is to learn Bible facts and doctrine and stop there. This is similar to just being able to tell that a friend liked a certain movie or that the friend was disappointed with his fishing trip and not seeing the person behind the fact. We do that to God all of the time.
For example, if we read “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul” from the beloved 23rd Psalm, we tend to focus on what God does for us. Even more important is to discover God in those verses. He is our shepherd who provides everything we need as well as other benefits from watches out for our welfare. We should also adopt into our world view that God is one who leads his people to rest and gives peace to revive us. This is who He is, and this is what is perfect.
Next, after seeing who God is and understanding His purity, we must look for how different we are and identify a sin that can be confronted.
For example, Psalm 23:1-3 can help us realize that we are dissatisfied with having only what we possess. We may have the sin of not accepting that we have all that God wants for us. We may want what others have or more of what the world makes available but God does not. We can also identify other sins that we need to confess and eliminate. Perhaps we refuse opportunities to rest or resist His wanting us to slow down and smell the roses. Perhaps we don’t let His peace fill us.
Let’s take the sin of not feeling satisfied with what we have in order to learn about the process of eliminating sin. First, we will confess to God that we from time to time do not think or act like we lack nothing and are dissatisfied with life and with Him. At that moment, we will be cleansed from that sin because of God’s graceful forgiveness. But, it may not be long before we experience displeasure and resentment again. So, this is a sin that needs to be taken to what we might call “second level confession”. First level is confessing to God and getting something for ourselves, forgiveness. But, second level confession is to give something to God – worship through repentance. Getting rid of the sin to any significant extent is done for God.
What father and mother who work hard to give their children food, clothing and shelter want to hear their children complain about not having a computer gaming system? So, how does God feel when we want more than He knows is good for us? Sure, the parents might have enough money for a PlayStation game system, but they don’t get one because they know it will draw their children away from succeeding in school. And God might not give us a Mercedes-Benz because He knows that we would drive it too fast and hurt someone or we might act better than someone else because we have a luxury car.
And, so, we implement second level confession to those in our Christian Inner Circles and thereby seek their help. Just going this far is worship. It tells God that at some level, we understand that he is worth changing for. Just imagine the honor if a child apologized for putting pressure on his parents for an X-Box (first level confession) and then asked his friends to help him not long for the gaming system (second level confession).
Now, after we ask our closest Christian friends for help in whatever form is needed to stop being dissatisfied with the house and car and food and recreational opportunities God has given us, those in our Christian Inner Circles need to step up and worship God by helping us through applicable Togethers. In our family example, the friends of the kid could help by letting him play at their house on their PlayStation, point out imperfections in the desired gaming system, redirect play to a sport or hobby, or point out that the parents must have a reason that can be respected.
Let’s confess to one another and worship God by working with other Christians to sins in our lives.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Joe's wife kicked him out of the house six months ago.
Finally, Joe called up one of his closest Christian friends and confessed all sorts of horrible mistakes he had made with his wife. He and Joe prayed for Joe's forgiveness. Then, when their larger group of friends got together, Joe confessed these sins against his wife again. And, after prayer, the friends gave him suggestions for repentance and reconciliation with his wife. Then group prayer sought the Lord's power for Joe's life. |
Sin brings dishonor on God’s name – just what the devil wants. So, we defeat Satan each time we rid ourselves of some persistent sin. But, getting rid of sin is not easy. Unless we foolishly recognize only “big” sins, we know that there are many ways to sin. Consider this warning from One who has a double-edged sword coming out of His mouth. It should get us all quite active in identifying our sins and blasting them away.
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” |
Rev 3:14-18
We should not be so self-conscious about our sins that we hide them. After all, everyone sins – and those sins have already been punished and paid for by Christ.
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
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Romans 3:22-24
Even more important is that our sins do not bring glory to our God who loved us so much as to kill His Only Begotten Son! Repeated sins disrespect God.
Therefore, we want to be able to confess our sins to one another and get help to eliminate them from our lives. To do this we need to create safe environments for the confession of sin. This requires that we force judgment and condemnation out of our minds. No friendship or family or marriage is safe if anyone is judgmental. And, we have been warned not to judge. Ultimately, God is the only judge.
Therefore, we want to be able to confess our sins to one another and get help to eliminate them from our lives. To do this we need to create safe environments for the confession of sin. This requires that we force judgment and condemnation out of our minds. No friendship or family or marriage is safe if anyone is judgmental. And, we have been warned not to judge. Ultimately, God is the only judge.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn,
and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37
and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” |
Matt 7:1-5
Note that we are not to judge as wrong anything in another unless we have removed such sin from our own lives. Even after removing a sin of our own, judging is out of line but discernment is okay and meant to help, not punish.
To be the first one to take the “plank out” sets an example that it is safe to admit the sin and accept help. This is a very effective way of getting another to confess a sin and repent. For example, saying to a friend, family member or spouse, “I confess that I gossip and could use your prayers and help” makes it much easier for another to “come clean” also about some sin.
If we start looking for our own sins to confess, we will find so many that judging others will seem hypocritical. We become safer when we see ourselves as not that much better than anyone else when measured by how far away from God’s perfection we truly are. It is like Earth is closer to the sun than Venus by millions of miles, but that difference is negligible if we compare to a distant star in the Milky Way Galaxy. And, our own righteousness is even further away from God’s holiness than that.
To be the first one to take the “plank out” sets an example that it is safe to admit the sin and accept help. This is a very effective way of getting another to confess a sin and repent. For example, saying to a friend, family member or spouse, “I confess that I gossip and could use your prayers and help” makes it much easier for another to “come clean” also about some sin.
If we start looking for our own sins to confess, we will find so many that judging others will seem hypocritical. We become safer when we see ourselves as not that much better than anyone else when measured by how far away from God’s perfection we truly are. It is like Earth is closer to the sun than Venus by millions of miles, but that difference is negligible if we compare to a distant star in the Milky Way Galaxy. And, our own righteousness is even further away from God’s holiness than that.
Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
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Acts 19:18-20
As in the example of the church in Ephesus noted above, we all need to be confessing our sins to one another. To fight this war against Satan for God’s honor, no one should keep back from admitting sin. And to admit only little, “not-so-evil” sins is very disrespectful of God’s righteousness.
Let’s not be cowardly. Let’s fight the good fight of the faith.
Let’s not be cowardly. Let’s fight the good fight of the faith.
Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called
when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I Tim 6:12
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called
when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
I Tim 6:12
After all, if we take the risk and expose our sins so that we can obliterate them and heal our spirits, who should we fear?
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
So, let’s get over our pride and confess a different sin to others in our Christian Inner Circles at least every other month. We are in a war. Let’s act like it.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Marla is a single mom with three children. She is sad that the kids don’t have a father in the home, but he was a complete bum. He still sends no child support. But, without their father’s disbelief in God in the home, Marla is able to help the children develop deep faith.
Concerned for her kid’s spirits, she has made it an actual agenda item at each meal for everyone, including herself, to confess any of their sins so that the family can help that person pray for forgiveness and then go on to help that sin become less and less until it disappears. In almost all cases, sins admitted in this way are not punished until they are repeated and the family thinks that negative consequences will help stop the behavior. |
We focus so much on physical healing and health that we miss focusing also on our spirits – which are the very essence of ourselves. One day soon we each will die and leave our bodies behind. Our bodies are not who we are. Our spirits are. They come directly from the breath of God, who is Spirit.
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24 ESV
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24 ESV
Note in the verse below that our “inner self” is our spirit.
Rather, it should be that of your inner self,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3:4
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3:4
Our spirit has been set free by the love of God through the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus. Unfortunately, not all have these renewed spirits. Since we Christians do, let us take them a bit more seriously.
At death we will go to be in paradise like the one wise criminal on the cross next to Jesus. In what Randy Alcorn calls the “Intermediate Heaven,” our spirits, our inner selves and the essence of who we are, will live with God and await the creation of a new earth and heavens when we get our redeemed bodies. The point is that to get ready for the afterlife, the more real life that awaits us, we should understand that healing our spirits should be a top priority.
Healing our spirits gets overlooked because it requires continual healing. Physical healing needs the same kind of confessing of sins to one another, but it is not as important as spiritual healing. Perhaps that is why Jesus forgave the cripple his sins before he did his body.
At death we will go to be in paradise like the one wise criminal on the cross next to Jesus. In what Randy Alcorn calls the “Intermediate Heaven,” our spirits, our inner selves and the essence of who we are, will live with God and await the creation of a new earth and heavens when we get our redeemed bodies. The point is that to get ready for the afterlife, the more real life that awaits us, we should understand that healing our spirits should be a top priority.
Healing our spirits gets overlooked because it requires continual healing. Physical healing needs the same kind of confessing of sins to one another, but it is not as important as spiritual healing. Perhaps that is why Jesus forgave the cripple his sins before he did his body.
Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” |
Matt 9:2-6
We must become more concerned than we are about healing our spirits. Physical health is important, but it is only about what equips our spirits to live in this physical world. The health of our spirit is about who we are in our essence! Our core selves need to be healed, and that starts with confessing our sins.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
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James 5:13-16
While we easily see a truth concerning healing the body in this passage, it addresses the forgiveness of sin even more so. Spiritual healing is related to forgiveness that starts with confessing our sins. Physical healing is occasionally needed, but disinfecting our spirits is always needed because our unlikeness to God is so extensive. Thus, confession for forgiveness is a continuous process for cleaning our spirits more and more – that never stops this side of heaven.
By confessing our sins to one another, we set in motion a process that can end in total elimination of not just sinful actions, but even sinful thoughts that precede behaviors. Even temptations can cease to be. Perhaps as kids we were almost always tempted to stomp in a mud puddle. Then, we learned when we grew older that to do so meant that we had to clean clothes and shoes more often and we eventually ceased entirely to be tempted to get our shoes and socks wet that way. In the same way, we can help one another see the awfulness of each and every sin, confess each sin we recognize, and hopefully make our spirits no longer susceptible to that sin’s temptation.
There is much to do after confessing our sins to one another, but it all starts with the confessing. Let’s do more and more of it to set in process prayer and all of the other Togethers needed to shape up our spirits as much as we can to get ready for heaven.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
By confessing our sins to one another, we set in motion a process that can end in total elimination of not just sinful actions, but even sinful thoughts that precede behaviors. Even temptations can cease to be. Perhaps as kids we were almost always tempted to stomp in a mud puddle. Then, we learned when we grew older that to do so meant that we had to clean clothes and shoes more often and we eventually ceased entirely to be tempted to get our shoes and socks wet that way. In the same way, we can help one another see the awfulness of each and every sin, confess each sin we recognize, and hopefully make our spirits no longer susceptible to that sin’s temptation.
There is much to do after confessing our sins to one another, but it all starts with the confessing. Let’s do more and more of it to set in process prayer and all of the other Togethers needed to shape up our spirits as much as we can to get ready for heaven.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
Before death, I let a sin of selfishness go. Before that, I did only what I wanted to, usually defined by only what I would be comfortable doing. Then, in a Bible study I learned that each Christian was to do his or her own part. I became convicted because I usually tried to avoid any responsibility that did not come easily.
But, then I decided to eliminate this sin of avoidance on my part. I let go of the excuse that I did not feel called by God to do something the Bible said all Christians should do but was not natural for me or comfortable. After I confessed to my Christian friends that I avoided making my contribution even though inside I knew the Lord wanted me to, they helped by showing me my strengths and assuring me that God could work in my weaknesses. They also did not let my lack of self-confidence act as an excuse and gave me assignments. At first, I did not like this, but then I felt so much more obedient and good inside once I had done my part of whatever Christian service was given me. Eventually, to make a long story shorter, I began to actually look for my part in whatever was happening in my Christian friendship groups, my family and my marriage. I actually began volunteering and acting without being asked. I began doing things with which I was uncomfortable. Now, in heaven waiting for my new body, I see people I knew who never defeated the sin of not getting involved when the Lord obviously wanted them to contribute. They are as happy as I am, but it is like their spirit is missing something that I have. It is like people’s spirit-images are of different solidity on a range of translucent to cloudy. Once in conversation with Jesus, whose image is solid, I asked Him about this. He gave an explanation that I cannot adequately pass on to you. But, it was something like the more transparent someone’s spirit, the less purity their spirit contains. Because all sin had been removed from their spirit in death, there is not sufficient righteousness to fill in the gaps. |
Is there any value to entering heaven as redeemed people who have eliminated as much sin in our spirits as we could before death? Silly question!
Do we think it more than possible that the purer our spirits are at the time of death the more likely a higher quality of life will be experienced in heaven?
Surely we don’t think that when we get to heaven we will be made as pure as God. His purity contrasts now to our impurity, but in heaven His purity will contrast to our limited purity. We will have no impurities, but we will not have full purity. God’s purity is and always will be infinite in scope. Ours will be more limited. Purities that are gained through resistance to sin must be gained now. If we go to heaven without them, we will never have them because there is no sin in heaven.
We have within us both the new self and the old self. Nothing in Scripture can be taken to mean that presently we should not be brushing off the sinfulness of the old self and enlarging the new self.
Do we think it more than possible that the purer our spirits are at the time of death the more likely a higher quality of life will be experienced in heaven?
Surely we don’t think that when we get to heaven we will be made as pure as God. His purity contrasts now to our impurity, but in heaven His purity will contrast to our limited purity. We will have no impurities, but we will not have full purity. God’s purity is and always will be infinite in scope. Ours will be more limited. Purities that are gained through resistance to sin must be gained now. If we go to heaven without them, we will never have them because there is no sin in heaven.
We have within us both the new self and the old self. Nothing in Scripture can be taken to mean that presently we should not be brushing off the sinfulness of the old self and enlarging the new self.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
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Eph 4:22-24
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
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Col 3:9-10
It makes no sense that taking off our old selves and its “practices” and putting on the new self is to benefit this life only. Certainly it carries over into heaven. In this day of addiction to easy Christianity, we want to live without the chore of becoming much better people. We want to see heaven as a place where we go and it doesn’t matter how we have lived here in the body before death. But, really, how silly is that? How much sense does that really make?
Let’s stop fooling ourselves that we can have the most wonderful life in heaven even though we ignore our not-so-obvious sins now. Oh, each person’s life will be fully wonderful in heaven. We will each be entirely satisfied with our station in heaven because dissatisfaction comes from sin and our ability to sin will be left behind with our dead bodies. (Thank you for that, Lord!)
Quality of life is the issue. Everyone will love their own quality of life. But, before we get there we seem to have a say in how much wonderful quality of life we will experience in heaven. The things about our spirits are difficult to understand now, so tied to our physical selves as we are. However, if we think of purifying our spirits more and more by eliminating one sin after another, then we can see that life in heaven for the purer spirit will be more full of wonderfulness than the spirit that did not so much purify itself, even though that spirit will still be satisfied.
This is not unheard of. There are a few in this world with more wonderful lives, worldly speaking, than the rest of us. Yet, we can be quite content to not own a yacht, travel the world, or play golf each week at a fancy country club. We are content because doing those things is “not us”, not the way we are. I, for example, do not miss skiing, but I do miss basketball. Let’s stretch this example to illustrate the advantages of eliminating one sin after another and so purify our spirits. If we do so, we will go to heaven enjoying 25 sports that became a part of us rather than just 5. Yet, the person enjoying 5 sports will be entirely happy, just not able to experience so much wonder and enjoyment.
Another example might be to consider whether we would want more money if we knew it would not have negative effects in our lives. Most of us would. Some would like a little more income and put a little effort into making that happen. Others would like a lot more income, but not so extensive as to be out of God’s will. And they would put much effort into making that money. Well, in heaven it is not about money, but increased purity and holiness. More holiness and its rewards in heaven starts with confession of sins, even though we know too little about heaven to know what will be all those wonderful rewards. Certainly, much of that gain will be increased depth in our relationship with God, which will be considered in the next section. But, there are probably many other benefits, just not so wonderful as closeness with God.
Let’s keep in mind that we should be attacking the old selves within ourselves for God’s glory. He has loved us so much that He deserves us to eliminate sin without concern for getting something for ourselves. Even so, purifying our spirits will have its rewards.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Let’s stop fooling ourselves that we can have the most wonderful life in heaven even though we ignore our not-so-obvious sins now. Oh, each person’s life will be fully wonderful in heaven. We will each be entirely satisfied with our station in heaven because dissatisfaction comes from sin and our ability to sin will be left behind with our dead bodies. (Thank you for that, Lord!)
Quality of life is the issue. Everyone will love their own quality of life. But, before we get there we seem to have a say in how much wonderful quality of life we will experience in heaven. The things about our spirits are difficult to understand now, so tied to our physical selves as we are. However, if we think of purifying our spirits more and more by eliminating one sin after another, then we can see that life in heaven for the purer spirit will be more full of wonderfulness than the spirit that did not so much purify itself, even though that spirit will still be satisfied.
This is not unheard of. There are a few in this world with more wonderful lives, worldly speaking, than the rest of us. Yet, we can be quite content to not own a yacht, travel the world, or play golf each week at a fancy country club. We are content because doing those things is “not us”, not the way we are. I, for example, do not miss skiing, but I do miss basketball. Let’s stretch this example to illustrate the advantages of eliminating one sin after another and so purify our spirits. If we do so, we will go to heaven enjoying 25 sports that became a part of us rather than just 5. Yet, the person enjoying 5 sports will be entirely happy, just not able to experience so much wonder and enjoyment.
Another example might be to consider whether we would want more money if we knew it would not have negative effects in our lives. Most of us would. Some would like a little more income and put a little effort into making that happen. Others would like a lot more income, but not so extensive as to be out of God’s will. And they would put much effort into making that money. Well, in heaven it is not about money, but increased purity and holiness. More holiness and its rewards in heaven starts with confession of sins, even though we know too little about heaven to know what will be all those wonderful rewards. Certainly, much of that gain will be increased depth in our relationship with God, which will be considered in the next section. But, there are probably many other benefits, just not so wonderful as closeness with God.
Let’s keep in mind that we should be attacking the old selves within ourselves for God’s glory. He has loved us so much that He deserves us to eliminate sin without concern for getting something for ourselves. Even so, purifying our spirits will have its rewards.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Violet and Zoey live near each other in heaven’s New Jerusalem. Recently, Jesus came bodily to their neighborhood and visited with them and others, each individually in their own homes. Jesus stayed and visited with Zoey for twenty minutes and Zoey was ecstatic. Jesus visited with Violet for forty-five minutes before Violet felt satisfied and ecstatic. Neither of them questioned the disparity, because each of their spirits had their fill.
The difference, Jesus knew, was the greater degree of righteousness that Violet had attained in putting off her old self before death. He knew He had more in common and more to share. But, Jesus did not hold anything against Zoey. He loves her just as much. |
The depth of our relationship with God in heaven will very likely be determined by how “big” our spirits are, how much purity they contain. God will relate to each of us to our fill, but one of us might figuratively have 48 pounds of purity and another 69 pounds. This will be the amount we attained by the time death called an end to enlarging the new self by shrinking the old self. Of course, 69 pounds enjoying God will be better than 48 pounds, but there will be no disappointment. God will be there for each of us to our maximum capacity. How much we have in common with Him will have to do with how much sin we overcame and replaced with His purity. It will be like different size gas tanks in our cars where the larger amount of gas can go further. Or it might be compared to a large screen television and one even larger. Both sizes will be enjoyable, just one a bit more but not experienced or missed by the owner of the smaller television.
Perhaps another example will help clarify. Who will a professional musician be closer to, a person who did not diligently practice and did not become very good with their instrument or one who went through the same daily grueling practice sessions and became proficient? Likewise, God will have more in relationship with someone who confessed sin to Him and then went on to confess to other Christians and receive their help until a number of sins were gone from behavior and thought.
While we would rejoice when a murderer confesses and changes, we will still be more like the person who never murdered anyone. We would enjoy comradery with the ex-murderer, but we would relax and be more at ease with the person who never murdered, all other things being equal.
Therefore, confessing sins to one another is huge. In heaven nothing will be more precious than our relationship with God. Don’t we want it to be more of a relationship than less of a relationship, even though in heaven we will not sense the difference and experience any sadness?
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O Lord who redeems, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to confess our sins to one another. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we deny our pride, trust Your grace, and confess our sins.
Please help us all to help one another through confession to eliminate sins from our lives and become a little more like our completely holy and pure Savior, Jesus Christ.
Help us to honor Your costly love for us by replacing our pride with humility and confessing our sins to one another. We want the healing in our spirits that Jesus purchased for us at Your command. Help us never to be satisfied by the state of our purity, but to continually praise You by confessing more sins and leaving them behind over and over again.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil who originated all of the sinfulness of mankind. We want to face the sins Satan has contaminated us with and confess those sins to one another that we might be cleansed from his infectious evil.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to trust Your forgiveness and not be afraid to admit our sins to one another. Please have the Holy Spirit strengthen us for this cleansing of our spirits that will later open up heaven’s beauty for us to enjoy.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
Perhaps another example will help clarify. Who will a professional musician be closer to, a person who did not diligently practice and did not become very good with their instrument or one who went through the same daily grueling practice sessions and became proficient? Likewise, God will have more in relationship with someone who confessed sin to Him and then went on to confess to other Christians and receive their help until a number of sins were gone from behavior and thought.
While we would rejoice when a murderer confesses and changes, we will still be more like the person who never murdered anyone. We would enjoy comradery with the ex-murderer, but we would relax and be more at ease with the person who never murdered, all other things being equal.
Therefore, confessing sins to one another is huge. In heaven nothing will be more precious than our relationship with God. Don’t we want it to be more of a relationship than less of a relationship, even though in heaven we will not sense the difference and experience any sadness?
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O Lord who redeems, I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to confess our sins to one another. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we deny our pride, trust Your grace, and confess our sins.
Please help us all to help one another through confession to eliminate sins from our lives and become a little more like our completely holy and pure Savior, Jesus Christ.
Help us to honor Your costly love for us by replacing our pride with humility and confessing our sins to one another. We want the healing in our spirits that Jesus purchased for us at Your command. Help us never to be satisfied by the state of our purity, but to continually praise You by confessing more sins and leaving them behind over and over again.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil who originated all of the sinfulness of mankind. We want to face the sins Satan has contaminated us with and confess those sins to one another that we might be cleansed from his infectious evil.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to trust Your forgiveness and not be afraid to admit our sins to one another. Please have the Holy Spirit strengthen us for this cleansing of our spirits that will later open up heaven’s beauty for us to enjoy.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.