Do not come here confessing the same sins week after week. If you have been, then confess that sin again honestly and in faith, and the sin of not really confessing your sins. When you confess your sins truly and honestly, you must also repent of them. The word “repent” means “to turn away from”. If you are confessing the same sin week after week then you are not really confessing sin: you are merely reminding yourself and God of all the offenses that are alienating you from God. If you really do want to repent but haven’t been able to on your own then ask someone like your parents, your spouse, or one of your elders to help. If you confess your sin and then ask for help, you have truly confessed and you have begun to repent, you have begun to turn away from that sin. Of course sometimes it takes several stabs to slay that particular dragon in your life, and you may have to confess a particular sin more than once. But do it and be done with it. Put the sin to death like the enemy it is; do not keep bringing it to church like some kind of family pet. Jesus said that if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. Whatever it takes, do it. Sin is for confessing and forsaking: get out your sword and start hacking.
Anonymous says
Just came across this posting–I don’t know you, but I really appreciate your spirit here, and the gravity with which you address sin and confession.
But one thing–Is it us who slay sin, or God? Do we have the power to utterly put it to death, or is that something we must bring to God for him to finally kill. Not that we don’t need to do our part….
Toby says
Thanks for the comment.
Paul exhorts the Colossians to put sin to death in their members (Col. 3:5) so I do think we are called to slay sin.
At the end of the day however, anything we accomplish is by God’s grace and His Spirit working in us. So it’s not either/or but both/and. This seems to be what Paul is implying in Romans 8:13.