Praying: Confession



 Confession is agreeing with God about our sin. We acknowledge sin and take God’s view of it. Confession reminds us that forgiveness is God’s free gift to us. We cannot earn forgiveness. But in agreeing with God about our sin and turning from it, God grants us forgiveness. Confession helps us walk in fellowship with God.

In leading and modeling for our small groups, we can help our learners learn to use confession in personal prayer and when appropriate, in corporate prayer.

As you lead your group and teach toward spiritual transformation, remember to ask the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to your life and to the lives of your learners. We do not have to condemn anyone, even ourselves, for it is the Holy Spirit’s role to reveal sin and call us to repentance.

Agreeing with God about our sin is only possible as we forget about our excuses for sin. The only comparison we need to make is how our lives stack up against God’s holiness. He knows the truth about us in every way. He is not deceived by our excuses. Therefore we must become honest with God about our sin.

As you teach about confession, remind your learners that forgiveness only comes through Jesus Christ and is made possible by His redeeming work on the cross. He lives now before the Father to be our Advocate and Defender.

If our sin damaged others, then we must make restitution and seek their forgiveness as well.

Read Nehemiah 1:5-11. Note Nehemiah’s sense of his personal sin and the sins of his people. Notice how he takes responsibility without blaming others. He praises God, confesses sin, prays God’s promises back to Him, and finally seeks God’s blessing in the matter at hand: rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.  

C.S. Lewis reminds us: "Prayer is either a sheer illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly concrete Person. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine. In it God shows Himself to us. That He answers prayers is a corollary—not necessarily the most important one—from that revelation. What He does is learned from what He is."

Scripture:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sings, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 ESV

Prayer:

Get caught up on your confessing. People will soon become aware of the purity you are pursuing.

Dig Deeper:

Much of today’s material came from the study helps in “Life Helps” in The Disciple’s Study Bible. Study Bibles are helpful tools for the Bible study leader. Consider adding one to your personal library.