Sin means missing the mark of God’s divine laws. And anything that falls short of God’s glory is sin. Man is a sinner by nature and by practice. God’s Word makes it abundantly clear “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
There’s no getting around it, because It is inescapable. Man commits sin because he is a sinner. King David said, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). Iniquity means premeditated immoral choices. The Biblical text is telling us that from conception in the mother’s womb man is a sinner.
The Bible says: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12).
Therefore, how then can mortal man say he has no sin when the Scripture also declares, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). This indeed is applicable to every human being since Adam. For man to say he has no sin, he is guilty of deceiving himself by not being honest and truthful.
Sin in the singular, means the inborn evil nature in everyone. Sins in the plural, mean the evil things a person does.
However, note carefully, “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). To confess means ”to say the same thing.”
When we confess our sins, we can rest assured that we are absolutely forgiven. Why? Because the God to whom our confession is made is faithful and just (or righteous) to forgive and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
God will never deny His word. He has always been merciful and gracious to undeserving mankind. The Scripture says, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). Hence, there’s absolutely no reason to doubt God’s willingness to forgive confessed sins.
The Bible also says, “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). Since all have sinned, no one must never deny the fact that they have not sinned. In doing so we make God a liar. Man is the liar. “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4 KJV). God will never contradict His word which clearly states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
It has been said “confession is good for the soul.” And it is absolutely true. Look what David said about forgiveness: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:1,2,5). The word blessed means happy.
Let’s pay attention and take notice of what David said. And just as how he expressed great happiness and joy about God’s forgiveness of his sins, so can all believers in Christ Jesus. The Bible says, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
Now that you have seen what the Bible teaches about confession and forgiveness of sins, why now embrace this opportunity to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and be on your way to heaven and spend eternity there?
On the other hand, if you are already a Christian, why not pause for reflection and pray to God for any unconfessed sins you may be able to recall — confessing them for His guaranteed divine forgiveness. God will never disappoint, neither turn you away. He has pledged His Word. Remember, “confession is good for the soul.” May God grant it for His name’s sake. Amen.