Connect Jeremiah 2:35 with 1 John 1:8-9 on confessing sins. A Tale of Two Claims: “I’m Innocent” vs. “I Have Sinned” “Yet you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ But behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’” “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jeremiah’s Warning: Denial Leads to Judgment • Judah insists on innocence while steeped in idolatry and moral compromise. • God’s response: judgment is unavoidable because the people “say, ‘I have not sinned.’” • Denial places the sinner in direct opposition to God’s revealed truth (cf. Proverbs 28:13). John’s Invitation: Confession Opens the Floodgates of Grace • John speaks to believers threatened by the same temptation to deny sin. • Two possible responses: – Claim sinlessness → self-deception, absence of truth. – Confess sin → God’s guaranteed forgiveness and cleansing. • The basis: God is “faithful and just,” honoring both His covenant promises (faithful) and Christ’s atoning sacrifice (just) (cf. Romans 3:26). The Heart Issue: Why We Dodge Admission of Sin • Pride—preferring personal reputation over truth (Luke 18:11-12). • Fear—unsure of God’s response, forgetting His steadfast love (Psalm 103:8-12). • Self-righteous comparison—measuring against others instead of God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:5). Practical Steps: Moving from Denial to Confession 1. Measure life against Scripture, not feelings (Hebrews 4:12). 2. Ask the Spirit to expose hidden faults (Psalm 139:23-24). 3. Name specific sins instead of vague regrets (Psalm 32:3-5). 4. Rely on Christ’s finished work, not personal penance (Hebrews 10:19-22). 5. Walk in the light daily—ongoing transparency before God and fellow believers (James 5:16). Assurance Grounded in God’s Character • Faithful—He keeps covenant mercy promised in Christ. • Just—sin was fully punished at the cross; forgiveness is not a legal loophole but a righteous verdict (2 Corinthians 5:21). • Therefore, confession never risks condemnation but secures cleansing. Key Takeaways • Jeremiah exposes the danger of sin-denial; John provides the antidote of honest confession. • The difference between judgment and cleansing hinges on one humble admission: “I have sinned.” • God’s unchanging character guarantees that every confessed sin meets mercy, while every denied sin meets judgment. |
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