“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3).
The knowledge of our sins is painful, but powerful. If we are willing to look honestly at our sins against God, the door to confession, repentance, and salvation can be opened.
The problem at the root of sin is always ego. It is pride that leads us to sin in the first place (we refuse to humbly submit to a will higher than our own), but after we have sinned, it is also pride that keeps us from admitting what we have done. Instead of confessing our sins and asking God for forgiveness, we suppress the truth with all kinds of avoidance, defense, and rationalizations.
But if the gospel is about salvation from our sins, then we must acknowledge our need for salvation. Therefore, the first condition of the gospel is humility—a willingness to yield to the painful truth about ourselves. We will have to give up not only our rebellion, but also the excuses we are offering for our rebellion.
We usually think of confession of sin in two directions: confession to God and confession to others. But I suggest there is one confession that must happen before both of these, and it may be the hardest confession of all. We must accept the truth ourselves. Only when we face the facts ourselves will we be ready to confess those facts to God and those against whom we have sinned.
But let’s go a little deeper. Honest confession of sin requires more than a simple “I have sinned.” We must be willing to confess our real sins and call them by their right names. In our human interactions, we won’t feel that an apology is enough if someone says nothing more than, “I didn’t treat you as I should.” A sincere apology requires specifically stating the error that was made. But again, the real difficulty lies in making this admission to oneself. We will not ask for forgiveness from God (or forgiveness from others) if we have not fully digested the truth about our transgression and put aside our excuses.
Personally, I do not know of any part of the plan of salvation that is more difficult. This is heartbreaking. But look at the doors that are open. Humbled, we are willing to come under the cross of Jesus and say, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
“Knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation” (Epicurus).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
