The Importance of Confession
Building Your Prayer Life–part 3
July 8, 2012
Confession of sin should be an important part of your prayer life. If you’re the parent of a teen, you know that when your teen does something they shouldn’t, “life stops” until the teenager “fesses up.” It’s more than a simple admission of wrong. Your relationship has also taken a hit, and needs to be restored. The same is true with God. When we neglect confession, it has the same debilitating effects on our relationship with God.
DAY 1
1. Human nature hates confessing sin. Confession of sin is not done for God’s benefit but for ours!
For each of the verses below, write down the effects of not confessing their sin.
Psalm 32:3-
Psalm 38:4-
Psalm 51:3-
Psalm 73:21-
John 16:8-
Acts 2:37-
Acts 16:29-
Acts 24:25-
2. What struck you most from the list, above? Does ignoring the problem of sin, or denying the problem of sin help make us better? (Read 1 John 1:6-10)
3. Read 1 John 1:9
a. The Greek word for “confess” is “homologeo,” which is made up of two words: “homo” means “same” and “logeo” means word. To “confess” sin means to “agree” with God. “I have sinned. I am guilty.” Why wouldn’t we confess our sin?
b. If we do confess our sin, what does John promise will happen?
c. John writes that forgiveness is possible because God is faithful and just. How do these two qualities make forgiveness possible?
-God is faithful-
-God is just-
4. Ultimately, does forgiveness depend on you or on God’s character?
DAY 2
1. People often say, “I know God forgives me, but I can’t forgive myself.” Put a check next to the factors you think drives this feeling:
___ Pride–“I can’t believe I did that; I can’t believe I was that stupid,” etc.
___ “I got caught; I’m embarrassed.”
___ Minimizing what “sin” is
___ Minimizing the effects of my sin on God
___ Minimizing the price God paid for sin, on the cross
___ Belief that my atoning for sin can do more than Jesus’ atoning for sin
___ “I’m basically a good person.”
2. How do the people in the following verses view sin?
Lev. 26:40-42-
2 Sam. 24:1-10-
Psalm 25:11-
Lamentations 1:20-
Psalm 51:1-
Luke 18:13-14-
Luke 5:8-
Num. 12:11-
3. What differences are there between how those men viewed sin and how you view sin?
4. When there is little awareness of sin, there is little awareness of forgiveness! When that is true, what takes center stage in our hearts is not the wonder of mercy and forgiveness, but our failure to meet our own expectations of ourselves–our pride!
5. How do you want to approach confession differently as a result of these verses, today?
DAY 3
Read Luke 7:36-50
1. What do you think prompted this woman to “crash” the dinner party (which was not uncommon when a rabbi was in town)?
2. What prompted her tears?
3. What prompted her to wipe His feet, kiss them and pour perfume on them?
4. The great contrast in this episode is with the Pharisee. What insight do we gain about him from v. 39?
5. What is the point of Jesus’ parable in vv. 41-42?
6. Yesterday we dealt with the issue of little awareness of forgiveness. Next to the items below, put an “X” next to the factors you think are true of the Pharisee:
___ Pride–“I can’t believe I did that; I can’t believe I was that stupid,” etc.
___ “I got caught; I’m embarrassed.”
___ Minimizing what “sin” is
___ Minimizing the effects of my sin on God
___ Minimizing the price God paid for sin, on the cross
___ Belief that my atoning for sin can do more than Jesus’ atoning for sin
___ “I’m basically a good person.”
7. The proof in the story comes from the contrast of actions done between the Pharisee and the woman in vv. 44-46. What strikes you about this contrast?
8. Jesus drives home the point of this episode in v. 47. When He told her, “Your sins are forgiven,” how deeply did those words strike her? Do you think she would have mumbled, “I know God forgives me, but I can’t seem to forgive myself?” Why?
9. What is your take away from this story?
DAY 4
We usually think of confession of sin like owning up to wrong. That is partly true, but the story is much greater than that! Sin doesn’t just make us guilty. It also damages our relationship with God. When someone has betrayed you or lied to you, confession of sin means more than, “Yup, I was wrong.” Confession of sin is the beginning of restoring a broken or shattered relationship.
1. In the following verses, what effect on our relationship with God occurs because of sin?
Isa. 59:2-
Isa. 53:6-
Jeremiah 14:7-20-
Luke 15:21-
2. God uses confession of sin on our part to restore our relationship with God. The point is a better relationship, not just a “clean slate.” What does God yearn for from us:
Hosea 5:15-
Isaiah 64:1-12-
3. From today’s verses, what kind of relationship does God want with you?
4. What kind of relationship do you want with God?
5. What is your take away from today’s verses?
DAY 5
Confession of sin should never leave us “down.” When we “come clean” God makes us clean! He does not expect us to be “mopey” after we’ve confessed our sin. The point is not feeling bad. The point is the restoration of relationship!!!! That is always cause for joy!!!
Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-13. (Note: in v 10, “death” means things like guilt, depression, “mopie-ness,” etc.)
1. What are the differences between true guilt and false guilt?
True guilt-
False guilt-
2. Contrast the after-effects of the two men’s “prayers” in Luke 18:13-14.
3. We minimize sin by forgetting that sin is only justly dealt with by the loss of blood! Write down what strikes you about each of the following verses:
Leviticus 5-6-
Hebrews 9:22-
4. The gospel tells us that our forgiveness was won for us, but at a great price! What strikes you about 1 Peter 1:17-20?
5. “Mercy” is not getting what we deserve (punishment). “Grace” is getting what we don’t deserve (blessings and favor!). Describe how each of the following verses describe either grace or mercy:
Ezra 9:13-
Ephesians 1:7-
Eph. 2:13-
Heb. 10:19-
Job 33:23-30-
Jer. 33:8-9-
6. If we were in a courtroom, God would be our judge and prosecuting attorney, and rightly so. But something happens in our courtroom that we never saw coming!
a. What surprising third role does God take on in our courtroom? (Micah 7:7-9)
b. What shocking fourth role does God take on in our courtroom? (2 Cor. 5:21)
7. What is your biggest take away from this week’s devotions?