Exhaling our Sins, Inhaling the Gospel

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A common objection to the gospel today is that Christians are hypocrites. Skeptics don't mind when they see Christians sinning. They do mind when they see Christians concealing their sins. We'll see more repentance among skeptics when the skeptics see more repentance among us. Let's have a spirit of confession, because Jesus is the Friend of sinners. He did not come to call the righteous but only sinners.

When we converted to Christ, what were we saying? We were saying, 'I’ve been completely wrong about everything all my life.' But then? Too often, Christians are never wrong again!

But the Bible says, 'The sacrifices pleasing to God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise' (Ps 51:17). Jesus said, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' (Matt 5:3). Jesus taught us to pray, 'Forgive us our debts” (Matt 6:12). He said to the church in Laodicea, 'You say, I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked' (Rev 3:17). Those Christians looked at themselves and all they could see was their strengths. But the Lord said to them, 'Those whom I love, I correct and discipline, so be zealous and repent' (Rev 3:19). Repent of what? Repent of saying, 'I need nothing.'

We live by spiritual breathing--exhaling the CO2 of our sins and inhaling the oxygen of the gospel. A spirit of confession--it’s how we walk with God.