Confession Review Humility and Service Humility Romans 12

Confession

Review: Humility and Service • Humility- Romans 12: 3 - Not thinking of yourself more highly than you ought. • Putting the needs of others before your own • Taking a lower position, not using your own power or authority to promote or advance yourself or your objective • Service- the action of helping or doing work for someone voluntarily • Examples might be giving your time, finances, resources, or capabilities for the benefit of others

When you hear the word confession, what do you think of? What feelings does this concept bring up?

Our Approach for Today • Confession for salvation • Confession to God • Confession to brothers in Christ In your Christian walk, what does confession look like?

Is confession required for the Christian Life? • Is confession of the sins to the Lord required? • 1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. • Is confession to other people required? • Then why do it? • James 5: 16: 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. • What is the roles of confession in the Christian life?

A Process for Confession 1. Preparation and Self-Examination • We place ourselves under the CARE and GUIDANCE of the Holy Spirit. • Reflect on our thoughts, words, and deeds. We examine our hearts in light of sin. 7 Deadly Sins • Pride • Anger • Lust • Envy • Greed • Sloth • Gluttony 10 Commandments 1. No other gods before me 2. Only Worship God, No Idols 3. Do not take the Lord’s name in vain 4. Remember the Sabbath, keep it holy 5. Honor your father and mother 6. Do not kill 7. Do not commit adultery 8. Do not steal 9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor 10. Do not covet Beatitudes 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We honestly and fearlessly ask ourselves where we stand in regard to each of these. Then we take appropriate responsibility for our sinful choices and actions.

2. Perception • Why is it so hard at times to recognize our own sin? • Matthew 7: 3 -5 English Standard Version (ESV) 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye, ’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. • All sin involves denial and distorts our ability to detect its presence. • What are some ways that God uses to point our sin? • What perspective(s) should we be looking at our sin from? • God • Those we have sinned against

3. Ask Why? And What Happened? • Sin is often an attempt to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. If we don’t address that need appropriately, we’ll keep sinning. • Luke 6: 45 New International Version (NIV) 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. • Why did we pursue the course that we took? • What happened as a result of my sin? • What pain do we need to address?

4. Make a New Promise • Confession involves our intentions about the future. • Set right what you did wrong. Luke 19: 8 New International Version (NIV) 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. ” • Making a new promise involves a resolution that, with God’s help, we will change. Romans 6: 6 New International Version (NIV) 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—

Side Note…What should we do when our sin affects someone else? “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ” Romans 12: 18 A true confession should include the following: • Address everyone involved (all those whom you affected). • Avoid if, but, and maybe (don’t try to excuse your wrongs). • Admit specifically (both attitudes and actions). • Acknowledge the hurt (express sorrow for hurting someone). • Accept the consequences (such as making restitution). • Alter your behavior (change your attitudes and actions). • Ask forgiveness.

5. Healing Grace • Hebrews 4: 15 -16 New International Version (NIV) • 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Group Discussion • Knowing the full depth of our sinfulness, how does God respond to those that confess their sins to Him? • Isaiah 43: 25, Joel 2: 12 -13, 1 John 1: 7 -9 • Why is confession of our sins to God such an essential discipline? Have your views of confession changed as a result of what we have talked about today? • What experience have you had with the practice of confession, what encourages you to do this, and what holds you back?

Application • Are you in the practice of confession to God? • Do you have a person or people in your life to whom you confess your sins? • Do you allow yourself to receive/embrace the grace that God gives, or do you hold on to the burden of your sin?