Confess Your Sins Boldly
One of the ways that both the ideologies of Legalism and Lawlessness war
against the Christian can be seen in how they treat and interact with the issue
of sin.
The Legalist typically conceals
sin. Otherwise stated, the Legalist typically
conceals sin by misusing the Law and by
inflating their perceived abilities
to fulfill the Law. Logically, from a Legalistic perspective, this strategy makes sense. Keep in mind that the main force of the Law is
to reveal original sin and all of its fruits; however, the Legalist misuses the
Law by defanging it. The Legalist makes the Law into something that he can fulfill by
his own strength. Therefore, if the Law
is misused and if mankind’s abilities are inflated, then man can successfully manage,
overcome, and be victorious over sin. For
the Legalists, both success and positive progress are manifested in his ability to supposedly overcome sin thus resulting in him talking less and less about his struggles with sin. Alas, sin is concealed, not confessed.
The Libertine, on the other hand, typically celebrates sin. Otherwise stated, the Libertine typically
celebrates sin by minimizing the
demands of the Law and by deflating
the Holiness of God. Logically this strategy also makes sense, from a Lawless perspective. If
the Law does not make stern demands and if God is not that serious about
righteousness, then mankind is o.k. and free do what he or she so desires. For the Libertine, a prosperous life is
marked by liberty from binding religious ethics and a joyous disposition of free unrestricted living according to the desires of the heart.
Alas, sin is celebrated, not confessed.
Did you notice that Legalism and Lawlessness are two sides
of the same coin? Legalism misuses the
Law and Lawlessness minimizes the Law.
Legalism inflates mankind and Lawlessness deflates God. Indeed, both of these errors end up in the
same place: the denial of God’s Law and the preservation of the sinful flesh (i.e., the old Adam). More specifically, Legalism conceals sin,
whereas Lawlessness celebrates sin; neither of them though, confesses sin. In other words, the Legalist and the Libertine
are both the same, they both do not own their sin and they both flee from contrition. Yes, Legalism and Lawlessness both flee from and abhor confession of sin, confession which is the visible sign of contrition. Truly, the sinful nature likes to hide in the shadows of Legalism and Lawlessness and does everything possible to keep from being exposed.
The Christian needs to be protected from both of these grievous errors, for both of these errors draw the Christian away from contrition, which
then draws the Christian away from the cross of Christ. Otherwise stated, both of these errors attempt to deceive Christians into believing that they do not have a sin problem (1 John 1:8). Indeed, concealed sin (i.e., closed sin) and
celebrated sin (i.e., open sin) avoid confession of sin, which then negates the
need of Christ’s cross.
Thankfully the message of the cross is constantly
confronting both concealed and celebrated sins.
Yes, the cross of Christ is at war with both Legalism and Lawlessness. “For the legalists, the cross destroys the
illusion that we can do something apart from God thus rendering God less than
almighty. For the person bent on
lawlessness, the cross says, ‘look how awful all the lawlessness is that the
holy Son of God must suffer so for the sin of mankind!”[1] What this means is that Lawlessness is not a
way to overcome Legalism and Legalism is not a way to overcome Lawlessness.[2] Rather than reactionary tactics, the
Christian lives life in the shadow of Christ’s cross; the Christian lives
underneath God’s Word of Law and Gospel.
Life in the cross is one where God’s Law leads mankind to the identification,
comprehension, and confession of concealed and/or celebrated sin. Thus, the point of God’s Law is to bring
about contrition in the person and to open their eyes to their corruption, so
that they might be prepared to hear and receive the forgiveness of sins in
Christ Jesus (i.e., the Law puts one in the grave; the Gospel puts one in Jesus' grave). Yes, the life of the Christian is daily confession of sin and daily reception of the absolving Gospel.
What does all of this actually look like? Practically speaking, confession of sins is obviously not the same as concealing sin. Furthermore, confession of sins should not be mistaken as if one is celebrating sin. Rather, confession of sins is a mark of the Holy Spirit working contrition through the Word of Law. Thus, spiritual health is not marked by one believing that everything is simply awesome, as is often the case with Lawlessness. Furthermore, spiritual growth is not marked by one talking less and less about sin because they are supposedly becoming less and less sinful, as is often the case with Legalism. Rather, spiritual health and spiritual growth are demonstrated by us moving away from "the conviction that we are self-sufficient to the repeated experience of spiritual bankruptcy. We move on from delusions of our spiritual importance to a growing sense of our utter insignificance and the glory of God. We move on from delight in our own power to the painful recognition of our spiritual weakness. We are brought from our self-righteousness to the increasing consciousness that we are sinful."[3]
What does all of this actually look like? Practically speaking, confession of sins is obviously not the same as concealing sin. Furthermore, confession of sins should not be mistaken as if one is celebrating sin. Rather, confession of sins is a mark of the Holy Spirit working contrition through the Word of Law. Thus, spiritual health is not marked by one believing that everything is simply awesome, as is often the case with Lawlessness. Furthermore, spiritual growth is not marked by one talking less and less about sin because they are supposedly becoming less and less sinful, as is often the case with Legalism. Rather, spiritual health and spiritual growth are demonstrated by us moving away from "the conviction that we are self-sufficient to the repeated experience of spiritual bankruptcy. We move on from delusions of our spiritual importance to a growing sense of our utter insignificance and the glory of God. We move on from delight in our own power to the painful recognition of our spiritual weakness. We are brought from our self-righteousness to the increasing consciousness that we are sinful."[3]
Being a sinner though, should not result in complete and
final despair. The reason why? The Lord does not despise spirits that are crushed, crippled, and wrecked. Thankfully the Lord does not disapprove of
collapsed, broken, and torn down hearts (Psalm 51:17). But rather, the Lord is near to the
brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us (1 John 1:9).
Beware of denying that you are a sinner or "aspiring to such purity that you will not wish to be looked upon as a sinner . . . for Christ only dwells in sinners."[4] Undeniably, God's Word of Gospel is that Jesus came for sinners, that there is forgiveness of sins in Christ. Therefore, confess your sins boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ's forgiveness for sinners even more.
Sub Cruce
[1] Peter Kurowski, The Seduction of Extremes: Swallowing
Camels and Straining Gnats (Enumclaw, WA: Pleasant Word, 2007), 51.
[2] Jack Kilcrease, “Legalism and Antinomians, just as
Antinomianism is a kind of Legalism” 23 February 2013,
http://jackkilcrease.blogspot.com/2013/02/legalism-is-antinomianism-just-as.html
(9 May 2014).
[3] John Kleinig, “Reverse Progress: Life as a Beggar,” 16
May 2014,
http://www.pastormattrichard.com/2013/05/reverse-progress-life-as-beggar-with-dr.html?q=licentious
(9 May 2014).
[4] Martin Luther, "Excerpt of Martin Luther's Letter
to Friar George on April 8, 1516," 24 December 2010, http://www.pastormattrichard.com/2010/12/christ-dwells-only-in-sinners.html?q=because+i+sin
(9 May 2014).
Comments