Next to John 3:16, this may be the best-known Scripture among Christians. It is so powerful and so practical, and it is one of the first verses that new Christians are told to memorize so that they can keep short accounts in their walk with the Lord. It’s amazing, in light of what this Scripture says, how many Christians when they stumble, find themselves begging God to forgive them again and again as if somehow he is reluctant and needs to be convinced of their sincerity before he will extend forgiveness. The reality is, there is nothing in this verse that says I need to ask God for forgiveness. What this verse says is that we, as Christians when we stumble, are to confess our sins. The word “confess” in the original language that the New Testament was written in literally means “to agree with.” To agree with someone means that they have to say something first. When God shows us there is sin, then our part is to agree with him and call dirt, dirt. The blood of Christ does not cleanse us from excuses but from sin confessed as sin.
1 John 1:9 says that if you will just confess your sin, God IS faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. It is so simple yet so powerful. I’m not supposed to beg God to forgive me until I feel forgiven. I am supposed to agree with God that something is sin, and once I do that, God automatically, because he is faithful and just, forgives and cleanses me. My knowing that I am forgiven and cleansed has nothing to do with how I feel after I’ve confessed my sin. It has everything to do with whether I believe that God is faithful and just. In light of the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, it would be unjust for God to withhold forgiveness and cleansing. If I will simply confess my sins the One who is just will be faithful (he will keep his word – that’s what faithful means) to forgive and cleanse. Again, it’s got nothing to do with our feelings. It has everything to do with Him and who he is and not about us and how we feel.