In last Sunday’s message, we explored 1 John 1:9 as part of the pathway to Lasting Victory Over Besetting Sin. Clear, precise confession of sin is absolutely fundamental to lasting victory. Anything less allows the besetting sin to keep us in its chokehold. How so?
Sometimes we treat sin gently. We say, “I fudged on the report,” instead of “I lied.” Or we excuse it by saying, “I’m Irish, I just have a temper,” instead of, “I was self-absorbed in my anger, Lord, and I dishonored You and that person.” We rationalize: “Well, I was just being honest,” instead of, “My words were hurtful and unmerciful, Father.” We compare: “Well, I wasn’t as bad as so & so,” instead of, “Regardless of what so & so did, I sinned against You, Holy God.” If we don’t treat sin like the enemy that it is, it will remain in control. And if we grasp how seriously God takes sin (the death of His Son!), how can we minimize it?
Other times we come to the Lord with sorrow- and shame-filled expressions of regret; disbelief that we have “done it again;” pleas for help; and declarations of renewed determination not to do it again; and on and on. What is missing? A clear, precise confession of what we did: “I berated that person, Father, who is made in Your image, and I treated her with contempt. I sinned against him and against You, and I ask for cleansing by Jesus’ blood.” (Consider this: How motivated would you be to forgive someone who had wronged you if they came to you and just went on and on about their misery after what they’d done, expressing their amazement that they had even done it, and just kept making bold promises that they’d never do it again? Especially if they never really looked you in the eye and said, “I was wrong. I am very sorry. Please forgive me.”)
At still other times after we have sinned, we think we dare not approach the Lord at all. At least for a little while. We think He would want us to “go to our room and think about it” for a few days to make sure we are really sorry and really serious about doing better next time. But when we respond that way, what we’re really saying is that we have to add something to Christ’s payment for our sins before we can re-enter fellowship with God. Imagine how offensive that is to the Father (who gave His Son’s life for our cleansing!) when we attempt to add to Christ’s payment for our sins.
Friend, the path to lasting victory over besetting sin includes clear, precise confession of sin. Don’t beat around the bush; call it what it is. Like David, go straight to the Lord with your confession: “Against You—You above all—I have sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight” (Ps. 51:4 NET). Every time you do that, you drive another nail in the coffin of that besetting sin.
P.S. If you missed Sunday’s message, or want to review it, click here.