Asking for forgiveness is a blessing from God. Too many people don't realize this amazing provision for cleansing from guilt and spiritual and emotional growth. There is no greater blessing than this.
Those who cannot allow themselves the strength to confess their sin and become cleansed by Christ live in constant condemnation without even realizing it.
It is a tremendous blessing to be allowed by God to confess our sin and become cleansed by Him, never having to remember that sin again.
We can discern those who keep close accounts of their sin and can openly admit to them, they are those who live in freedom with a clear conscience lacking any fear of being discovered. They do not fear God nor do they fear people.
Those who have not been forgiven by God live in a state of fear and condemnation even if they don't realize it. They lack hope and struggle daily to elevate themselves thinking this diminishes the guilt that lives inside of them.
They will say things like "I am basically a good person" only because they are attempting to convince themselves of something they know is not true.
Becoming born again through confession of sinfulness frees the repentant from this life of struggle and guiltiness. Jesus Christ provided this freedom by dying on the cross for our sinful hearts but in order to have it we must believe Him, confess our sinfulness and trust that He will cleanse us from that sin.
When we sin after becoming born again Christ in us teaches us, reminds us of our sin and cleanses us when we confess it to Him desiring that He change our hearts. When our heart is changed our behavior and attitudes also change.
We cannot change ourselves it is only Christ Who can change us from our old sinful nature into a new person.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
If we slip into sin after being born again our Spirit hates it and eventually will confess to be cleansed.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"
May all those who do not practice confession of sin regularly be reminded of the blessing of cleansing and deliverance from sin that comes from Christ Who lives in us.
