In anticipation of Christmas, many sing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” and a White Christmas is beautiful, but there is something infinitely better than a “White” Christmas, namely, a “Right” Christmas, and to have a “Right Christmas” you must have a White Heart. And to have a White Heart we must make preparation for it. Millions are preparing for Christmas materially – the tree, decorations, gifts, food, wardrobes, trips, etc. But we must prepare if we would have a “Right” Christmas, but how do we prepare for a “Right Christmas?” We must be right with God and man and to be so we must confess our sins. Many admit their sins regularly, but do not truly confess them. They admit, deny, excuse, rationalize, minimize, cover, or justify their sins which are no confessions at all. What is true confession? Let God answer – “He who covers (conceals) his sins shall not prosper but whosoever admits and forsakes his sin shall find mercy.” (Prov. 28:13).
Please take note of the Seven “A’s” of true confession:
- Admit Every Sin Against God or Man. All sin is rebellion against God, and we must begin by laying our sins at His feet (Psalm 51:5). By getting right with God, we will then have the will to reconcile with others. Many sins take place only in our thoughts, do not directly affect others and we do not need to confess to others.
- Avoid Little Words. “If”, “But”, “Perhaps” – which nullify true confession. Instead of saying, “Perhaps I was wrong,” be honest and drop “Perhaps.” “I’m sorry if I’ve done something to upset you.” By adding this little qualifier, you are implying that you’re not really sure. Put some teeth in your confession with the words, “I was WRONG not to wait to hear your side of the story.”
- Address Sins Specifically, not Generically. Most public confession I’ve heard was not confession at all. Ex: “Lord, if I have done anything wrong, I am so sorry.” Don’t say “I know I am a lousy husband,” but “I have sinned against God and you by not loving you unselfishly as Jesus loved the church and died for her (Ephes. 5:25). Note: Many confess their sins so generally that if God were to answer they would not know it because they themselves did not know or state their specific sins.
- Apologize Out of A Broken Heart. “I am heart broken and so very sorry that I have robbed you, O God, by withholding the tithe, or to the wife, “I am sorry I talked about you at the office.”
- Alter Your Behavior. To do so requires two actions:
- True repentance, which means to hate the sin we’ve committed, being convicted by the Holy Spirit, and turning 180 degrees from that sin.
- Changing your behavior. Charles Spurgeon wrote in effect these words, “If one has committed a terrible sin, such as adultery, He will be forgiven by God and man if his repentance is more notorious than his sin. Ex: I know Chuck Colson personally, having invited him to spend the week-end with me in Houston’s Northwest Baptist Church. He confessed to our congregation his great sin of pride while the counselor of President Nixon, but that he’d repented and made a 180 degree turn and no one who knows his behavior today would question this. The entire world has seen the changes in his turning.
- Ask God And Man for Forgiveness. God forgives immediately anyone who truly repents (Isaiah 55:6-7; 1 John 1:9). Most persons will also if you follow the steps in our discussion today. If not, you should continue to forgive them and pray that they will someday forgive you.
- Accept God And Man’s Forgiveness. Forgiveness is forgiveness only if the offended party accepts the forgiveness of the offended. Years ago a certain man committed a murder for which his friends received a pardon from the Supreme Court, but when the pardon was offered he refused. The Supreme Court did not forgive, but decreed that this man must die, for a pardon not accepted is not valid.