The Broken Altar

With Jesus we have so much for which to be thankful for!

His Love, His Mercy & Grace, His Death & Resurrection

Example: Noah in Genesis 8:20

Abraham in Genesis 12:7

C. The Altar Was A Place Of Confession.

It starts with taking a spiritual inventory of our lives at the altar!

In Isaiah 6:5 (KJV), Isaiah saw himself and he said, 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Most Christians never see themselves as Isaiah did!

Our flesh responds,

“I am not that bad!”

“After all, I am still a sinner!”

“I am not the only one!”

The flesh refuses to admit wrong.

I believe the more time we spend at the altar, the more we will see ourselves as Isaiah did : unclean, undone, and in need of forgiveness.

1 John 1:8-10 (KJV) 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.

(vs. 9 “If we confess our sins…”) Here we find Humility.

Explanation:

If we confess our sins. . . not if we hide our sins.

If we confess our sins. . . not if we pretend we have none.

If we confess our sins. . . not if we insist that no one can tell us what to do.

If we confess our sins. . . not if we are blind to them.

If we confess our sins. . . that is when we find forgiveness, and not until.

Observe: In order to understand the purpose of confession we must first understand what John means by the term confession, if we look at our text we will see many clues to help us understand what John is teaching…

• The word, “If,” Suggests that it is up to you. What is your decision, will you confess or not? You see confession is an act of free will and is not forced upon us by God or man. God does not force you to confess.

• The two words, “We and Our,” Means that Confession is for everyone; for all have sinned and are responsible for their own sin.

•Then the word, “Sins,” This is the root of confession which is about our transgression against God.

• So “Confess,” Admit your wrong doing; take personal responsibility for your sin.

So we have seen the definition of “confession” but what is its purpose?

What John is trying to show us, is that we are sinners.

Think of it like this!

• Confession will humble us: It shows us who we are and who God is.

• Confession will allow God to change us.

• Confession will allow God’s grace to be activated in our lives: We are never closer to God than when we are on our knees confessing our weakness and His strength.

• Confession will allow us to be set free. Free from the power that was over us.

D. The Altar Was A Place of Sacrifice.

Example: Abraham and Issac in Genesis 22