Remember Peter? The apostle who boasted that he will never deny the Lord (Matt 26:33-35) & then denied Christ 3 times? He slept when he should have prayed (Matt 26:40). He denied when he should have defended (Matt 26:69-74). He ran when he should have stayed. We remember Peter as the one who denied Christ, as the one who turned & fled. But do we remember Peter as the one who wept bitterly (Matt 26:75)? Who returned & confessed?
Think about it. How did the New Testament writers know of his sin? Who told them of his betrayal? And more importantly, how did they know the details? Who told them of the girl at the gate & the soldiers starting the fire? How did Matthew know it was Peter’s accent that made him a suspect? How did Luke learn of the stare of Jesus? Who told all four writers of the crowing rooster & the flowing tears?
The Holy Spirit? That is for sure. Each four gospel writers learned about all these from divine inspiration. It is also highly probable that at least 1 writer learned of the betrayal by an honest confession. After the rooster crowed, Peter was struck hard in his heart, he wept, and it was not just plain crying, it was in bitter anguish. He probably went back to the room where Jesus had broken the bread & shared the wine, (or wherever the disciples would be hiding) & shared with them his experience the previous hours & got “these things off his chest.” He repented. He returned. He told the truth. And soon enough, he was able to be one of the top apostles.
The same thing happens in our walk with God. Unconfessed sin leads to a state of disagreement with God. You may be God’s child but you don’t want to talk to Him sincerely. He still loves you, but until you admit you have sinned, there will always be a barrier between the two of you. Unconfessed sin hinders joy. Confessed sin releases it. Confession does not create a relationship with God, it simply nourishes it. Admission of sins does not alter our position before God, but it does enhance our peace with God.
The Lord’s Prayer includes “Forgive us our sins…” because it is an integral part in our walk with God. We will never experience the real joy that is in the Lord until we honestly pray in our hearts “Father, forgive me” just like Peter did.
Think about it. How did the New Testament writers know of his sin? Who told them of his betrayal? And more importantly, how did they know the details? Who told them of the girl at the gate & the soldiers starting the fire? How did Matthew know it was Peter’s accent that made him a suspect? How did Luke learn of the stare of Jesus? Who told all four writers of the crowing rooster & the flowing tears?
The Holy Spirit? That is for sure. Each four gospel writers learned about all these from divine inspiration. It is also highly probable that at least 1 writer learned of the betrayal by an honest confession. After the rooster crowed, Peter was struck hard in his heart, he wept, and it was not just plain crying, it was in bitter anguish. He probably went back to the room where Jesus had broken the bread & shared the wine, (or wherever the disciples would be hiding) & shared with them his experience the previous hours & got “these things off his chest.” He repented. He returned. He told the truth. And soon enough, he was able to be one of the top apostles.
The same thing happens in our walk with God. Unconfessed sin leads to a state of disagreement with God. You may be God’s child but you don’t want to talk to Him sincerely. He still loves you, but until you admit you have sinned, there will always be a barrier between the two of you. Unconfessed sin hinders joy. Confessed sin releases it. Confession does not create a relationship with God, it simply nourishes it. Admission of sins does not alter our position before God, but it does enhance our peace with God.
The Lord’s Prayer includes “Forgive us our sins…” because it is an integral part in our walk with God. We will never experience the real joy that is in the Lord until we honestly pray in our hearts “Father, forgive me” just like Peter did.
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