Transformation without Confession?

Can we be transformed spiritually without making the discipline of confession part of who we are?

Based on our discussion Sunday, the discipline of confession (and sincere repentance) open us up to our true potential in Christ. Without confession at conversion and without the ongoing attitude of confession in our daily walk, sin has a nasty tendency to creep in and distort our perception of reality.

In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus teaches about the "plank" in the Pharisee's eye:

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

We've all gotten a speck of dirt in our eye. It hurts. It makes us wince. It blurs our vision. In some cases, it totally interrupts our ability to see. Imagine how much more a "plank" would distort our ability to see clearly.

In the story of David and Bathsheba, the sin in David's life was driven by pride and prevented him from being able to detect and deal with the sin that had ensnared the great King of Israel.

Sin, in the form of a speck or a plank, distorts our ability to see properly.

Sometimes we may be too proud to acknowledge the sin to confess it. Sometimes we're too ashamed. Sometimes we fear the consequences of owning up to our sinful acts.

Take some time this week to note how God responds to those who confess. Check out these passages:

Isaiah 43;25
Joel 2:12-13
1 John 1:7-9

Also, take a look at the freedom we experience when we have the courage to confess (even Christians need to confess sometimes):

Psalms 32:1-2
Acts 3:19
2 Corinthians 7:10