Introduction

Good morning, beloved! Today, we're going to dive deep into a topic that touches all of us - sin. We often think that we can hide our sins, keep them concealed from others, and maybe even from God.

But, as St. Augustine once said, "The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works."

Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 18:9-13 and James 1:22-24.

In Luke, we read: "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'"

And from James: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

Today, we're going to talk about the danger of concealing sin, the power of confession, and the blessing of forgiveness.

Let's open with a prayer:

Dear Father, we come before you today, acknowledging our sins and failures. Open our hearts to fully understand Your Word. Help us not only to listen but to act on it. May we experience the power of confession and the blessing of Your forgiveness. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Let's dive in.

The Danger of Concealing Sin

The danger of concealing sin is a topic that is often overlooked, but it is one that has profound implications for our spiritual health and our relationship with God. When we conceal our sins, we are essentially trying to hide from God, a futile endeavor considering that He is all-knowing.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 4:13 that: "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." This verse reminds us that God sees everything, even the things we try to hide.

Detrimental to our spiritual growth: When we hide our sins, we are not acknowledging them or dealing with them in a healthy, God-honoring way. Instead, we are letting them fester and grow, often leading to more sin and further separation from God. It's like a wound that is left untreated; it doesn't just go away on its own, it gets infected and causes more harm.

Can lead to a hardened heart: In Hebrews 3:13, we are warned, "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." When we hide our sins, we are deceiving ourselves, thinking we can manage or control them. But sin is deceitful, and it can harden our hearts to the point where we no longer feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Can lead to a false sense of righteousness: We see this in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee was confident in his own righteousness, thanking God that he was not like the 'sinners' around him. Yet, he was blind to his own sin of pride and self-righteousness. On the other hand, the tax collector, who was seen as a sinner by society, was the one who went home justified before God because he acknowledged his sin and asked for mercy.

Robs us of the opportunity to experience God's grace and forgiveness: 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." When we hide our sins, we are not confessing them to God, and thus we are not allowing Him to forgive us and cleanse us.

Can hinder our witness to others: When we are not honest about our struggles and failures, we can give others the impression that being a Christian means being perfect. This can discourage others who are struggling with their own sins and make them feel like they can never measure up. But when we are open about our sins and our need for God's grace, we can point others to the One who can forgive and transform them.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about a time when you tried to conceal a sin and the impact it had on your life.

The Power of Confession

The power of confession is a profound aspect of our Christian faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO