“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
What is the purpose of confessing our sins to an omniscient God? He obviously knows the sins we commit better than we do. We are called upon to confess our sins to God and to each other for our own benefit.
In order to confess our sins, we must first recall them. We are creatures of short, selective memories. If we do not intentionally recall our sins, we will forget them, our pride will hide them from us, or we will rationalize them away. As we recall them, we are confessing to ourselves that these were actually sins, transgressions against God and His Law. They are unavoidably and undeniably sins. This reminds us of our complete dependence on God for salvation.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1John 1:8-10
“If people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
In my church we corporately confess our sins each Sunday, followed by a private confession. The entire congregation humbles themselves in confession before the Lord. Here is an example of my church’s corporate confession of sin:
Our Father in heaven, as Your children we are thankful that Your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, deeper than all of our sin. This morning we ask that You would forgive us for our frivolous attitude toward life, our callousness, our envy of those who have more than we have, our indifference to the treasures of heaven, our neglect of Your wise and gracious Law. Transform us by Your grace so that we might desire what is good, love what You love, and do what You command. This we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The purpose of confessing sin is not to dwell on our unrighteousness, but to acknowledge that we are sinners by our very nature, in need of a Savior. Confession of sin is an important part of our sanctification. Our goal is certainly to have fewer sins to confess as time goes on, but we know that without God’s grace we are lost. Thank you Lord for Your saving grace.