A few weeks ago I was asked by a gentleman to speak to the Walker Vikings baseball team. The request was to speak with a character trait in mind using biblical principles. There are all types of character traits that can be pulled from the Bible some from individual persons in the Bible. In the week prior I spoke to my student at Farmstead about being honest with Christ about who they are, so I, in feeling like it was a great topic, continues the thought with the baseball team.
In 1 John 1:8-10, John writes to back to churches in Asia Minor. He is encouraging them to live lives evident of their salvation. I have appropriately entitled our study through the book, "Evidence." 1 John 2:8-10 reads:
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
First, if we say we have no sin, we directly contradict the Word of God where in Romans it states, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We are not honest with ourselves. We deceive ourselves as the scripture states. It is hard to be honest with ourselves about our own sin when we are the god of our lives. As god of my own life, I have no sin because the law by which I live is set by me. So I can deceive myself because my law is not firm but is changeable.
Second, if we confess our sins, we are being honest with ourselves about who we are and where we stand. When we confess our sins it shows that we recognize that someone else is greater than we are and that person can pardon our sins. God is the only one who can pardon sin. Scripture tells us in Hebrews, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (forgiveness) of sin." Jesus shed His blood to be the forgiveness of our sin. The two-fold purpose of confession removes us from our throne and places the correct person on our throne, Jesus.
Thirdly, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Who is He? That is Jesus Christ. He came to "seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus is faithful. For us, in our flesh, we are not faithful. Only through Christ can we be faithful. Apart from Christ our faithfulness is determined by our desires, time, and motives. Jesus is not fickle in his faithfulness and he is not slack as some count slackness. Jesus is always on time and always dependable. Jesus died to pay the ransom that we owed. Scripture tells us in Romans that "the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Not only does He forgive us our sins, He cleanses us from all righteousness. This is a complete washing, a new beginning. Just as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Everything about our lives becomes new. Our desire to be honest is new.
As Lord of our own lives we will tell ourselves anything to promote ourselves. We will determine what is good by what makes us happy. In the flesh, what makes us happy is relative to our situation but when we are new, what makes us happy is what is according to the will of God.
Our honesty about our sin and posture with God is very important. If we are honest about our sin then God is rightfully where he needs to be in our lives, Prophet, Priest, and King but if we are dishonest about our sin then we take God from his rightful place, and his character does not change nor does his position, to make him out to be a liar. God cannot be a liar and he is not a liar. Jesus stated that He is "the way, the TRUTH, and the life..." James 1:17 also tells us there is "no shadow of turning" in Christ. If we make God out to be a liar then the Word of God is not in us. Why? or How can that be? If you know scripture, then you know God keeps is promises. God is honest with his people whether it be for correction, approval, encouragement, or promise.
I encourage you, be honest with God, be honest with yourself. This will play out through all your relationships. "Honesty is the best policy" is what I have heard for years and it is still applicable for today. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness..."
