Sermon Series on Confession: Sermon 1: The Need for Confession

Why are you a Christian? The answer to this question should be universal and equal among all Christians. "I don't know" is not an acceptable answer. This is one topic that God wants conviction on. It's not like choosing between meat or potatoes at lunch time. It's not just a matter of taste. It's a matter of eternal salvation. Imagine if when Christ asked His disciples, "who do you say I am," the disciples answered - "oh, I don't know. What do you want me too think?" Peter answered with conviction, "you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." It was his conviction, and it is ours - that Jesus was anointed by God to live and die for the sins of the world. It is our conviction that we are sinners who are saved by the blood of Christ.

Now let me ask you a more pointed question. Why are you a Lutheran? The answer to that question probably varies as much as the clothing on our backs. Is it because you like the liturgy? The pastor? The members? The songs? Or is it because our church was the closest to where you live? Because your parents were Lutheran? Because your spouse was Lutheran? I hope not. I hope that your answer would be the same answer as it was for why you are a Christian - because you believe you are a sinner who needs the grace of God as found in Christ alone. This is the Rock of our confession as a Lutheran Church - what the basis of the Reformation was all about. The reason we call ourselves Evangelical is because we preach the Gospel - the message of Christ is our foundation.

If Lutheranism is equal to Christianity - and the bedrock of our church is the Gospel - then you might wonder why we don't just call ourselves Christian? And why don't we join with the many other Christian churches who also preach the Gospel? One key difference between the Lutheran Church and every other denomination goes back to the backdrop on which the Gospel rests and covers. What is that? Sin. Martin Luther did not start preaching Christ without first going through years of struggling with sin and the guilt it brings. Luther spent many years with his head buried in sin and guilt before he ever really understood and believed the Gospel. A key difference between him and Rome was that Martin Luther believed in total depravity. That's a big term - but what it means is that man is born completely dead in sin - unable to come to Christ - under the power of Satan and ugly in God's sight. Luther based this view of sin and sinners on God's Word -

Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

This separated him from Rome because the Catholic Church taught him that he had an inner spark of goodness which he could draw on to do good things and therefore curry God's favor. This discovery of sin by Luther then led to the second key difference - that Jesus death on the cross completely covers up this ugliness and washes it away with His blood - which is then applied to the Christian through faith. This two headed Lutheran approach to the Scriptures is a focus on Law and Gospel, sin and grace. The reason Luther was such a wonderful preacher on GRACE was because he had such a blunt view of sin and an awesome fear of God's wrath.

It is therefore a distinctively Lutheran practice to continually focus on sin and grace - not just prior to conversion but even after conversion. The first of Luther's 95 Theses - which began the Reformation - states, "Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said "Repent", willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance." Therefore, one of our distinct practices as 21^st Century Lutherans is to start out a majority of our worship services with a general confession of our sins and absolution - a declaration of forgiveness from the pastor. Many of our songs still talk about sin and hell and God's judgment. The pastors are trained to approach sermons from a Law and Gospel approach - asking - "how does this show us our sin and how does it show us our Savior"? It doesn't mean that we don't allow our pastors the freedom to vary from such an approach. Yet our overall purpose is to constantly lead God's people to confess their sins and cling to their Savior. Confession is a part of our core curriculum in the catechetical teachings of our children. It is one of the anchors of our faith.

The reason we do this - is not so that we can be distinctive - but because we believe that a recognition of sins and confession of sins and then clinging to Christ - Law and Gospel - sin and grace - is what keeps the Church alive and helps it grow. When we look throughout the Scriptures - we can see that this was the way that God continually approached His people throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. Read through the major and minor prophets. Listen to Samuel talk to David. Step onto the shores of the Jordan and hear John's message. Open up to Acts and listen to Peter's sermon on Pentecost. Sin and grace permeates the foundations of the church - AND - keeps the Church founded in Christ.

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount He was addressing people who claimed to be His disciples. Listen to some examples as to what Jesus talked about -

Matthew 5:20-22 I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 5:38-39 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Was Jesus simply instructing on how to live a good life? Or was Jesus expounding on what sin actually was and using the threats of hell? Judgment and sin and hell didn't stop being talked about with the declaration of forgiveness and faith.

Consider also the letters of Paul. These are not just instructions on how to be good Christians. Throughout these letters to these new congregations of followers in Christ he preached the Law and the Gospel. Here are a few examples -

Ephesians 2:11-13 Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" . . . - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Colossians 2:20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

When we look at the very words of God we also see how the Holy Spirit emphasizes a constant recognition of sin and grace in the life of the Christian. John wrote to fellow Christians in 1 John 1:8-10 -

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Jesus also said to his disciples in Luke 17:10 -

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

Even when you have done EVERYTHING you are told to do, you should still say you are an unworthy servant. Never lose sight of your sins and who you are.

This approach to the Scriptures is absolutely repulsive to a majority of today's Christianity. Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" was founded on an absolute rejection of this. He and many other theologians have claimed that this approach leaves many Christians feeling unworthy and unable to do anything - with no "self esteem." Today's Christianity likes to talk about what you can do rather than what you can't do. Everything has to be "positive" - otherwise it is "unloving." I have no statistics to back this up, but I would venture to bet that at least over seventy percent of churches that claim a Christian basis - do not talk about sin, death and hell all too often. Sin - if it is mentioned - is rarely if ever spoken of in terms of complete depravity - permeating the child from conception. Hell is thought of a medieval concept that has been abused and used as scare tactics - even though Jesus used them and gave vivid descriptions of a rich man begging for a drop of water from the fires of hell. The law is used primarily in instruction on how to live a good life or be a good dad or mom or child or witness or steward of finances - but hardly ever to show sin or talk about judgment. Whereas plenty of Bible passages are quoted and everything may be "Biblical" - it is in it's core a completely different approach to God's Word.

Why do we insist on a continual examination and exploration of our sins? One reason is that if we as Christians lose sight of our sinfulness, we can make a grave mistake and underestimate this awful beast. Our sinful nature is so deceptive that it always wants to stick it's head out from under Christ's clothing and receive recognition and credit before God. It doesn't want to be called ugly. Sin doesn't like to be called sin. It wants to be understood and accepted as an alternate lifestyle or at worst a weakness that needs to be tolerated. Pretty soon the whole camel is in the tent. The bigger problem is that God does not tolerate sin. He doesn't excuse it. He exposes it and punishes it. God demands that we basically come before Him naked. He does not want us trying to cover up or excuse some part of our sinfulness. So He makes sure that we know that even the most tiny sin is offensive in His sight.

Think for instance of Moses. Here was a guy who faithfully led God's people out of slavery. On the way, he made one little mistake. All he did was strike a rock instead of speaking to it. What's the big deal? Yet God told him he couldn't enter Israel because of it. This one "little slip" would be a final reminder to Moses that even he needed to be saved by grace - even after all he had done. Think of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6. The oxen were returning the Ark of the Covenant when they suddenly stumbled. Uzzah simply reached out and held the Ark to steady it - so the LORD put him to death for his "irreverent" act. The LORD's message was that even one slip deserves judgment. Jesus did not even tolerate lust or hatred. He demanded holiness and perfection. (Matthew 5:48)

So here we sit in the middle ages singing about sin - talking about it, still very wary of the devil and hell. We have a confession at the beginning of a majority of our worship service. We still encourage private confession - even though you don't do it. We still discipline those who do not repent of sins. Why don't we lighten up and follow the modern Christian approach since they seem to bring more people in to their churches with a more positive and happy approach to Christianity? In the end - it's all about Christ. We believe that Christ came to cover all of your weaknesses and make you completely holy.

•Hebrews 10:10 We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
•Romans 3:21-24 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
•Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.

There is only one place to find holiness - and that is in Christ alone. It is not in Christ and you. It's not in making excuses for your sins. It is not only because Christ has covered up some of the really bad things you've done. It is because Christ's life and death has completely covered you from head to toe. The Holy Spirit wants you to completely bath in Jesus' blood - not just partially.

Don't even think about taking off the clothing of Christ. When Paul was dealing with the Galatians - they were contemplating doing that very thing! They were starting to think that in addition to Christ, they should also be circumcised so they could really be holy. So Paul said to them,

Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Paul was telling the Galatians, "Christ is all you need. He provides you with a hundred percent perfection. You don't need to do anything to be holy, as long as you believe in Him." You don't need to cover up any of your sins with excuses, because Christ already covered them in His blood.

The strange thing about this whole process is that nobody wants to admit they are naked and in need of clothing. It's a scary thing to do. We think that if God or fellow Christians knew about our thoughts or our past actions they would disown us - and condemn us. After all, He is the one who has been telling us that our thoughts and actions are so evil and deserving of judgment. He is the one who has been threatening us with hell and chasing us with the Law. Yet when we stop running from the Law and lay down before the Holy Throne of God, the exact opposite happens. When we lay before our LORD with all of our faults exposed and we sorrowfully admit our guilt, He takes the blood of Christ and pours it over us from head to toe. Instead of condemning us as He threatened, He lifts us up and pulls us out of the grave and says, "you are forgiven. Your sins are paid for. My Son has made you holy."

Every Sunday morning we lay before God - with our souls laid bare. We are sinful. We deserve God's judgment. We plead for God's forgiveness. This is not just a Sunday morning routine we are to go through. It is a way of life. It might seem like a depressing thing to do to a majority of today's Christianity - which would rather look at the positive and ignore the negative. It might not be their "style". It might seem like an ancient way of approaching "faith." Yet when we look at the results of this "alternative" approach, we can see how it has led to humanism and liberalism and anything goes. Many mainline denominations now teach that there is an alternative way to heaven apart from Christ - for those who lead "good lives." "Church" in many senses has turned into a social club and a party atmosphere.

Confession is necessary. It has been used to found and keep the Church ever since God convicted Adam and Eve in the Garden. Whoever cannot continually say "I am a sinner" and "I am sorry" cannot then say "I believe in Christ and I am a Christian." I hope you would look at the confession as a refreshing way of living - an honest way of living - of saying to our LORD, "I still know who I am. I still know who YOU are. I am a sinner. You are a gracious and forgiving LORD. Today, and always, I must lay my sins at your feet - and throw myself at your cross. Cover me with your blood and your righteousness. Fill me with your grace." In the end, although it is a humbling way to live - it is a comforting way to live - because it keeps us clinging to Christ - relying on HIS blood and righteousness. This is the way of confession - and ultimately this is not only the Lutheran way but it is also the Christian way. Amen.