Confession # 2

Confession # 2

Man is naturally asleep - and must be awakened.

He is blind - and must be made to see.

He is dead - and must be made alive.

If this was not the case, then there would be no need for our pressing the duty of confession. Scripture commands it. Reason assents to it. Conscience, in its best moments, approves of it. And yet, notwithstanding this, the vast majority of men have no practical acquaintance with confession of sin! No disease of body is so desperate as mortification. No heart is in so bad a state as the heart that does not feel sin.

Shall I say what is my first and foremost wish for wise souls, if they are yet unconverted? I can wish them nothing better than thorough self-knowledge. Ignorance of self and sin are the root of all mischief to the soul. There is hardly a religious error or a false doctrine that may not be traced to it. Light was the first thing called into being. When God created the world, He said, "Let there be light." (Genesis 1:3). Light is the first thing that the Holy Spirit creates in a man's heart, when He awakens, converts, and makes him a true Christian (2 Cor. 4:6). For lack of seeing sin men do not value salvation. Once let a man get a sight of his own heart, and he will begin to cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

If a man has learned to feel and acknowledge his sinfulness, he has great reason to thank God. It is a real symptom of health in the inward man. It is a might token for good. To know our spiritual disease - is one step towards a cure. To feel bad and wicked is the first beginning of being really holy.

What though we feel ashamed and confounded at the sight of our own transgressions! What though we are humbled to the dust, and cry, "Lord, I am vile! Lord, I am the very chief of sinners!" It is better a thousand times to have these feelings and be miserable under them - than to have no feelings at all. Anything is better than a dead conscience, and a cold heart, and a prayer-less tongue!

If we have learned to feel and confess sin, we may well thank God and take courage. Whence came those feelings? Who told you that you were a guilty sinner? What moved you to begin acknowledging your transgressions? How was it that you first found sin to be a burden, and longed to be set free from it?

These feelings do not come from man's natural heart. The devil does not teach such lessons. The schools of this world have no power to impart them. These feelings come down from above. They are the precious gift of God the Holy Spirit. It is His special office to convince of sin. The man who has really learned to feel and confess his sins, has learned that which millions never learn, and for lack of which millions die in their sins, and are lost to all eternity.

2. I now turn to the second branch of my subject. To whom ought confession of sin be made?

I enter on this branch of the subject with sorrowful feelings. I approach it as a sailor would approach some rock on which many gallant ships have made shipwreck. I cannot forget that I have arrived at a point on which millions of so-called Christians have erred greatly - and millions are erring at the present day. But I dare not keep back anything that is Scriptural, for fear of giving offence. The errors of millions must not prevent a minister of the Gospel speaking the truth. If multitudes are hewing our broken cisterns that an hold no water - then it becomes the more needful to point out the true fountain. If countless souls are turning aside from the right way - then it becomes the more important to show clearly to whom confession ought to be made.

Sin, to speak generally, ought to be confessed to God.

He it is whom we have chiefly offended.

His are the laws which we have broken.

To Him it is that all men and women will one day give account.

His displeasure is that which sinners have principally to fear.

This is what David felt:"Against You, only have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight." (Psalm 51:4). This is what David practiced: "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord." (Psalm 12:5). This is what Joshua advised Achan to do: "My son, give glory to God, and make confession to Him." (Joshua 7:19). The Jews were right when they said, "Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" (Mark 2:7).

But must we leave the matter here? Can vile sinners like us ever dare to confess our sins to a holy God? Will not the thought of His infinite purity shut our mouths and make us afraid? Must not the remembrance of His holiness make us afraid? Is it not written of God, that He is "of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity!" (Habakkuk 1:13). Is it not said, that He "hates all workers of iniquity!" (Psalm 5:5). Did He not say to Moses, "No man shall see my face and live"? (Exodus 33:20). Did not Israel say of old, "Let not God speak with us, lest we die!" (Exodus 20:19). Did not Daniel say, "How can the servant of my Lord talk with my Lord?" (Daniel 10:17). Did not Job say, "When I consider, I am afraid of Him!" (Job 23:15). Did not Isaiah say, "Woe is me, for I am undone - for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty!" (Is. 6:5). Does not Elihu say, "Shall it be told Him that I speak? If a man speaks - then surely he shall be swallowed up"? (Job 37:20).

These are serious questions. They are questions which must and will occur to thoughtful minds. There are many who know what Luther meant when he said, "I dare not have anything to do with an absolutely holy God!" But I thank God they are questions to which the gospel supplies a full and satisfactory answer. The gospel reveals One who is exactly suited to the needs of souls which desire to confess sin.

I say then, that sin ought to be confessed to God in Christ. I say that sin ought especially to be confessed to God manifest in the flesh - to Jesus Christ the Lord - to that Jesus who came into the world to save sinners - to that Jesus who died for sinners, and rose again for our justification, and now lives at the right hand of God to intercede for all who come to God by Him. He who desires to confess sin, should apply directly to Christ.

Christ is our great High Priest. Let that truth sink down into our hearts, and never be forgotten. He is sealed and appointed by God the Father for that very purpose, to be the Priest for Christians. It is His peculiar office to receive, and hear, and pardon, and absolve sinners. It is His place to receive confessions, and to grant full absolutions. It is written in Scripture, "You are a Priest forever!" "We have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens." "Having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith" (Hebrews 4:14, 5:6, 6:20, 10:21-22).

Christ is a High Priest of Almighty power. There is no sin that He cannot pardon - and no sinner that He cannot absolve. He is very God of very God. He is "over all, God blessed forever." He says Himself, "I and my Father are one." He has "all power in heaven and earth." He has "power on earth to forgive sins." He has complete authority to say to the chief of sinners, "Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace." He has "the keys of death and the bottomless pit." When He opens, no one can shut. (Romans 9:5; John 10:30; Matt. 28:18, 9:6; Luke 7:48-50; Revelation 1:18, 3:7).

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 3)