Rhythms | Confession

Rhythms | Confession

June 15, 2020 | Matthew Morken


Confession is rooted in the Gospel. The definition of confession can be broken into two parts. The first half of the definition is “admission, especially of guilt or sin”. The second part states that “to confess” can mean to agree, to promise, or to admit something.

Because I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, I can confess sin to the Lord and to others. The Bible tells us to confess and yet we are guilty of not confessing. In some regard, many like to confess Jesus as Lord but don’t follow through in freedom to confess our sins to Christ or one another. In particular, the following verses from 1 John challenge us in this.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:6-9

Confession is a beautiful gift to us from Christ. Because of the work he did on the cross, we can come to him and tell him what he already knows. We have sinned and we continue to sin. Jesus paid for it all on the cross. Because we can approach our Lord and Savior and tell him of our brokenness, we also have the ability to approach our brothers and sisters in Christ and confess our sin.

Talking to a peer about our struggles can be difficult. The questions of, “Will they judge me?” “Will they want to speak with me again?” “Will they be tired of hearing how I failed again?” “Will they treat me differently?” can deter us from this important practice. But, herein lies the beauty of true fellowship with one another. We both need Jesus. Our identity is not driven by our works or lack of sin, it is linked by our need for the Savior. It is his blood that has cleansed us from our sin and gives us hope that one day, in his presence, we will sin no more! I have the opportunity in confessing to my Lord to be released from the condemnation of my sin and be free before my Creator.

In confessing to my Connection Group or my friend, I have the opportunity for the Church to use its freedom to be the hands and feet of Jesus in my life. They can weep with me, they can celebrate confession, they can prod me toward continued growth, and they can hold me as I struggle.  

To confess Jesus as Lord is to walk with him and regularly confess my brokenness. He has already taken care of both my sin and my brothers’ and sisters’ who are on the same journey of becoming more like Jesus.  


Matthew Morken

Urbana Campus Pastor