“The High Cost” Part III of V

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 09 March 15, 2009

We have considered the high cost committing sin and the high cost of covering sin. Today we’ll deal with the high cost of confessing sin.

There is no question about it - David had sinned. He had lusted, he had coveted, he had taken his neighbour’s wife, then he had her husband killed. He then covered it up for almost a year.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

But what does it really mean to confess sin?
To confess does NOT mean to “admit”.

“Ok, I admit I did it!” (LOL) You or I can't hide anything in our heart from God - He already knows!

The word confess means “to say the same thing”.

Saying the same thing about our sins that God says about them... this leads to repentance rather than penance.

Speaking of penance - No amount of good work can atone for our sins. The only thing that takes care of sin is the blood of Jesus!

There is a definite difference between regret, remorse and repentance.
· Regret matter of the mind. sorry we got caught
· Remorse matter of the emotions. feeling terrible about it
· True repentance involves the whole person. The word repentance means to change direction.

Repentance begins in the mind and then moves into the heart! Psalms 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight:

David sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. But in the long run when we sin against man we sin against God.

II Samuel 12 And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He said, There were two men in a city; one rich, the other poor. The rich man had incredibly big flocks and herds: The poor man had nothing, except one little lamb, which he had bought and nourished, it grew up with him and his children; it ate and drank in the house - like one of the family. A traveller came to visit the rich man, the rich man spared his own flock, but took the poor man's lamb and butchered it for the traveller. And David's anger was great against the man and he said to Nathan, As the LORD lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
David knew the rich man had sinnned and he was angry!
And Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; I gave you the king’s house and his wives, and I gave you rulership over the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given you more... Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD? Why have you done this evil in his sight? You’ve killed Uriah with the sword and you took his wife to be thy wife… “You’re the man!” Not a good thing!
David replied, “I have sinned!” I’m glad David didn’t ruin his repentance with an excuse!

Many people can say, “I have sinned!” but God knows what is in the heart.

Pharaoh had said, “I have sinned”, but he simply regretted suffering judgement.

Saul had said that he had sinned, but he too only regretted that he got caught.

Judas said, “I have sinned” but it was only remorse, so much so it led him to suicide.

Confessing sin is not cheap. It cost more than mere words. David never argued about his sin, nor did he excuse it. He admitted his heart was sinful. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

David spoke clearly in Psalms 51:16 For You desires not sacrifice; or else I’d give it: You don’t delight in burnt offering.

David was a wealthy man and could’ve brought expensive sacrifices. But he knew that those sacrifices would not do any good if his heart was not broken before God.

That’s why David said, Psalms 51:17 a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You wilt not despise.

The high cost of confessing sin is a broken heart! Not just good intentions! When we come to the place where we realise that from head to toe we are nothing but dust - and defiled dust at that - and we have a broken heart, then we can sincerely confess our sin.

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to them that are of a broken heart and saves such as are of a contrite spirit (crushed with sorrow for sin / humbly thoroughly penitent.)
Luke 22:54-62 They took Jesus and brought Him to the high priest's house. And Peter followed at a distance afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, rooster crowed. And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the rooster crows, you shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

All Jesus had to do was look at Peter, and Peter began to weep. Our Lord didn’t hit him, whip him, scold him or preach at him. - just looked! Peter’s heart broke.

What it takes to bring you to the point of real brokenness shows you where you are in the Christian Life!

Here’s the facts: God loves us. God is gracious, merciful and long suffering. God is true to His promise. If we come to God with a broken heart and confess our sin, He will forgive us and restore us.

Beware of cheap confession! Remember there is NOTHING CHEAP ABOUT GRACE! Consider the high cost of confessing sin!

A look at Confessions:

In the washroom of his London club, British newspaper publisher and politician William Beverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, then a young member of Parliament, about whom Beverbrook had printed an insulting editorial a few days earlier. "My dear chap," said the publisher, embarrassed by the encounter. "I've been thinking it over, and I was wrong. Here and now, I wish to apologize." "Very well," grunted Heath. "But the next time, I wish you'd insult me in the washroom and apologize in your newspaper."

Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, "Our people come to us and pour out their hears, confess certain sins and needs. Let's do the same. Confession is good for the soul." In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn't confess. The others pressed him saying, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?" Finally he answered, "It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here."