"I'm a good person I think I will become a Christian"
"My life has been pretty good, I do good to people, I think I will fit into those Christians that attend those church gatherings."
"My sins weren't as bad as the sins of others, I think I will make a good Christian."
I'll identify as a Christian, that will make me a better person."
I have heard all these phrases in different forms over the years. God never allowed me to think I was a good person, the very reason I knew I needed Christ to change me into something other than what I was, I had no strength of my own to be what He wanted me to be and I knew it. God broke my pride of self-reliance, which is why I could come to Him in brokenness.was
When I finally came to terms with the fact that I could do nothing to make myself what I should be in God's eyes was the day I confessed my sinfulness to God and he changed me.
All of the quotes I have written above are the very reasons the people who say them are not born again and will not become born-again unless they can humble themselves admitting they have nothing to offer God or anyone else. When they realize they are utterly wicked without remedy is when God will do great work in changing their heart from one of stone that relies on themselves to a heart of flesh vulnerable and ready to trust in Him.
God will not change anyone who wants to believe highly of themselves. It is through brokenness over our sins that we can come to Christ with our heads bowed low to accept His forgiveness.
Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
The gospel message is not one of encouragement for people to enjoy a better life, its one of warning that we are no good without Christ and that we must confess our sinfulness to Him and ask Him to change us into His image.
If we fall after being changed by Christ it is our flesh that falls and when Christ in us disciplines us to return to obedience. A born-again believer will never be comfortable in their sin or defensive of it, they will remain burdened with guilt until they confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:9 was written to believers, not to the unsaved.
1 John 1:9 "“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
God will not ignore a repentant heart!
The unsaved must confess they are sinners to become born again, that is for salvation. Confession for the believer is to be cleansed and grow in holiness.
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