IF WE CONFESS is the Important Phrase Here

1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I find it interesting that our culture places the emphasis of forgiveness on "forgiveness" alone. In the minds of many people, forgiveness stands alone all by itself.

But wait a minute.......the verses that speak about forgiveness also speak of "confession" of sin to be forgiven. The most important part of this verse is not forgiveness but the confession of sin.

It is the confession that brings cleansing and spiritual growth. Forgiveness comes after the confession and it is for the purpose of reconciling a relationship.

Often I hear...Forgive, forgive, forgive but why do I not hear....confess, confess, confess? One would think that if we say "forgive" so much we would at least say "confess" as many times as we say "forgive."

Here is why we hear "forgive" and not "confess." It's because everyone wants to be forgiven without having to do the difficult and embarrassing thing, that is confessing openly and with humility.

It is humbling that people resist, it makes the cleansing unimportant.

There can be no cleansing without confession of sin, God said so in this very verse. "If you confess He will cleanse."

It is the confession and the cleansing that the devil does not like. He wants everyone to believe God forgives without confession of sin. This way he sends a false message that everyone is saved and forgiven no matter their attitude toward God.

It is psychology that surmises human nature must always be forgiven to sense love. But God says He is love, His love extends beyond superficial feelings of euphoria. His love brings healing from sin through confession and cleansing. Forgiveness is conditional to confessing. Cleansing is also conditional to confessing. Forgiveness is the last and final act that reconciles a broken relationship.

Without the steps of confession and cleansing forgiveness becomes mute and senseless.

The devil has managed to intimidate people into forgiving prematurely leaving the relationship and the offender broken and unchanged. All that occurs is the offender keeps on offending, the offended senses no peace or resolution and things remain broken and even growing worse. The forgiveness offered without the offender being sorry does nothing at all. It manages to make someone feel better at the moment they are saying it but there is a hole in the soul of the one who didn't see confession and attempted to extend forgiveness with mere words. Forgiveness is not mere words, it is a cancelling of a debt allowing the two parties to reconcile with a new outlook on the relationship. Done God's way this process will make the two parties closer than they were before.

Forgiveness all by itself without confession is the devil's tool to badger the innocent who was offended while empowering and enabling the wicked to grow more wicked. The devil doesn't want the real solution, the deeper reconciliation that leads to close friendship. He wants things to remain broken.

Luke 17:3-5 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”…"

This is God's formula for relationships, spiritual and emotional growth and justice for the offended. God is not interested in sparing people's feelings, he is interested in justice, cleansing and reconciliation. None of these things are accomplished just by "saying" I forgive so I feel better.