Far too many Christians today are walking around with things hidden in their heart that are eating them alive spiritually. Unconfessed sins break down our faith, destroy our confidence in Christ, and rob us of our peace and joy. Not to mention, unrepented sin can cause a whole flurry of spiritual problems in our lives.
Proverbs 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Psalms 38:3-8, “…Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.”
Many Christians simply say, “Lord, forgive me of all my sins”, but continue to hide and cover up sins from their past. Do you honestly think that God honors this behavior? I don’t think so. Let’s take a look at what King David said about hiding sin in our hearts:
Psalms 32:3, “When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.” (NLT)
Am I saying that we must go back through each sin in our past and cover every dead work? No! All I’m saying is that we need to search our hearts to make sure that there is no sin being hidden or covered up that we may not remember or be aware of right now. Covering up, justifying or hiding sin in our hearts is the opposite of true repentance. True repentance brings it to the surface, confesses it as sin, and then forsakes it.
King David knew the importance of making sure his heart was clean before the Lord; he even asked the Lord to search his heart and see if there be anything hidden that needed to be brought out into the open:
Psalms 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
The repentance of sin is a very important, but often overlooked part of the gospel. Jesus made it clear that repentance and remission of sin is a foundation that we cannot overlook…
Luke 24:47, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Matthew 3:6, “And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.“
Persecution Live 