” UNDERSTANDING CONFESSION OF SINS…” ( 1st John 1:5-10 )
The oxford Dictionary defines Confession as a formal statement of admitting that one is guilty of a crime. This is a hard task, telling God the exact wrong you did. By the time you communicate, it means that the Holy Spirit directly or indirectly has done the work of conviction in you.
In Psalm 51:4 King David said that ”…against you Oh Lord have I sinned and done this evil in your sight”. When we sin it is rebellion against God.Therefore our confession should be genuine because it serves as an acknowledgement of our fallen nature and calls for repentance.
Repentance is a stage of complete turn around from wickedness to a righteous life.
Our Passage of focus (1 John 1: 5-10) comes generally from this book written by John the beloved disciple of Jesus Christ and author of the Gospel of John. Scholars say that he was old and the only existing disciple who had directly interacted with Jesus at that time. His purpose in this epistle was to present the right Gospel content to make believers aware of the identity of Jesus Christ and have certainity of their faith to avoid the contemporary false teachings, gnostism (worldly Knowledge) meant to divert them from truth.
Specifically, from this text we learn that Sin binds us in darkness but confession and forgiveness opens the door for the light, which permanently makes us to have joy in the Lord and love everyone with Agape (Unconditional) Love. Vs. 9 assures that if we confess our Sins God is faithful and just, He will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God is light and for us to be in Him we must live a straight forward life with the truth that we are not perfect but sinners at our different levels of salvation. This is the only way we
shall enhance a healthy relationship with God and fellow humans in the right way. God is indeed revealed as the source of love and joy.
In this Lent season; a time when we pray and fast for forty days to repent. God searches our hearts and helps us to return to him with all our hearts and not garments. It is a time when we ask him to create clean hearts within each of us. We may have other needs but the greatest prayer request is forgiveness and separation from the chains of our fallen nature and welcome the refreshing atmosphere of God’s presence. May the Lord help each one of us to discover and feel sorry about our sins, confess quietly or loudly and purpose to live as a people set a part for God ; walking in the light and truth of Christ.
The Very Rev. Canon. Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye,
Provost, ASCK.