THE WAY UP TO PEACE IS THE WAY DOWN

Much of what Augustine had written in his Confessions does not resonate with a generation convinced that they have to learn how to believe in and to like themselves:

• By confessing our own miserable state and acknowledging your mercy towards us, we open our hearts to you, so that you may free us wholly, as you have already begun to do. Then we shall no longer be miserable in ourselves but will find true happiness in you (Book XI:1).

Augustine represents what is pejoratively called “dirty rotten sinner” religion. Instead of building himself up so that he could feel good about himself, it seems that Augustine was doing the very opposite thing – groveling in his “miserable state.”

However, according to Augustine, the way down was really the way up to finding “true happiness.”

How can this be? When we humble ourselves to make a complete confession of our sins, it is like lancing a festering sore, squeezing out the puss, and exposing it to the light, The festering sore cannot simply be covered with some positive affirmations like, “I am not going to worry about it. It will go away on its own.” Instead, it must be cleansed.

Our relationship with our Savior must also be regularly cleansed, or it too will fester and possibly poison our entire spirit. The Psalmist wrote about this cleansing:

·       For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:3-5; ESV)

Any form of healing must address the underlying problem. In the case of our relationship with God, it always begins by going to the root of our alienation from our Healer by confessing our sins.

SELF-ESTEEM vs. GOD-ESTEEM

We Westerners generally feel that, if we want to accomplish anything in life, we have to believe in ourselves and to nurture a high self-esteem. However, Augustine was accomplished and seemed to have had a low self-esteem:

• For I am needy and poor, but you who care for us, yet are free from care for yourself, have enough and to spare for all those who call upon you. (Confessions, Book XI:2) 

Augustine’s “Confessions” can be uncomfortable. They contradict some of our most basic assumptions about our lives. While it has become an almost unquestioned assumption in the Western world that the good life is about being happy and self-fulfilled, Augustine’s “Confessions” are about being God-filled:

• By confessing our own miserable state and acknowledging your mercy towards us, we open our hearts to you, so that you may free us wholly, as you have already begun to do. Then we shall no longer be miserable in ourselves but will find true happiness in you. (Book XI:1)

There is a biblical logic in this. After all, what blocks us from a joyous relationship with our Savior? Our baggage! Our self-absorption! How do we leave behind our self-obsessions? Well, how do we leave behind any relational conflict? By apologizing! First, we have to acknowledge our wrong-doing; then we can leave it behind us. After I have wronged my wife, I cannot simply tell her, “Let’s forget about that and move on.” Instead, I have to apologize for what I have done.

The same principle pertains to our relationship with the Lord. We cannot move on until we confess our self-centeredness and self-righteousness. Then we can move to the next step by asking for His help.

The Bible articulates this concept in so many ways. Jesus told a parable about two men who prayed in the Temple. While the “successful” man congratulated himself, the other humbled himself by confessing his sin. Jesus concluded:

• "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)

Likewise, Jesus taught that we must not think that we are entitled to our Lord’s mercy. Instead, we have to become as little children:

• He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)

In contrast to little children, the self-righteous believe that they are better than others and, therefore, are entitled to what can only come as a gift from God. In regards to this, a Roman commander was theological miles ahead of even Jesus’ disciples. He requested that Jesus heal his servant but added that he was not worthy that He should come to his house where his servant laid. Instead, it was enough that Jesus merely speak the word of healing.

Instead, of regarding the Roman as having a defective self-image, Jesus marveled at his faith, expressed through his humble heart and the wisdom that accompanies humility:

• When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. (Matthew 8:10)

In appropriate biblical humility, Augustine had prayed:

• "O Lord, perfect your work in me. Open me to the pages of your Book. Your voice is my joy, a greater joy than any profusion of worldly pleasures... If we make it our first care to find the kingdom of God, and his approval, all these things shall be ours without the asking." 

Augustine's prayer should prompt us to reconsider the way we regard ourselves and the way we regard our Savior.

KNOWING THAT GOD HAS EMBRACED US

How do we know that God has lovingly received us? This question threatens us. The great reformer, Martin Luther, was a afflicted because he lacked the assurance that God had received him. He almost died on several occasions trying to prove to God that he was worthy of Him. His priest and spiritual guide, Von Staupitz, assured Luther, “All you need to do is to love God.” However, unsure of his final destination, Luther stormed back, “Love Him? I hate Him!”

The Apostle John knew that this is an issue necessary for our peace and assurance and, therefore, devoted one of his letters to help the brethren know that they had been embraced eternally by God. In a theologically packed statement, he wrote:

·       We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3-6)

Although obedience does not save us, it is the inevitable fruit that assures us that we have a living, saving faith. An apple tree bears apples and not poison ivy. The apples don’t make the apple tree. It is the tree that produces the apples. It is the appearance of apples that assure us that we are looking at an apple tree. In the same way, our obedience to God’s Word reassures us that God loves us.

However, the simple test of obedience to His commands or Word can also fill us with uncertainty and dread. We might ask, “Am I obeying enough?” However, we are all miles away from the perfect model of Jesus. Nevertheless, we “must walk as Jesus did.” Not very reassuring!

However, we can reassure ourselves in several ways. Jesus’ intention was to serve the Father before all else. The Father was #1. If we are seeking first the Lord and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), we can assure ourselves that we are walking as Jesus did. If we embrace God in this manner, we can be assured that He embraces us.

We will fall short, far short! However, if we humble ourselves before the Lord (confessing our sins), He will lift us up (James 4:10). John puts it like this:

·       If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

But we must confess our sins! These who refuse to confess do not have a living faith, for if we truly trust God, we will do as He tells us to do, confess our sins, and turn from them. If we refuse, we are “liars.” Therefore, we cannot extend a false hope to the “liar,” telling him that he is saved even though he refuses to “obey His commands.”

This also puts the kibosh on the unbiblical teaching of universalism. If someone refuses to follow Jesus, and claims that he is nevertheless saved, we must bring them to John’s words that he is a “liar” without hope. If they did have a future hope despite their unwillingness to repent, John would have argued that “all will be saved anyway, and so no tests of your faith are really necessary.”

John’s teaching also suggests that we are not free to discard any of Jesus’ teachings. Instead, the way that we love God is to keep His Word, all of it! When Jesus was tormented by the Devil while fasting in the desert, He quoted Deuteronomy 8:

·       The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:3-4)

If Jesus lived by the Father’s every word, so must we! He did not pick-and-choose. This is how we “must walk as Jesus did,” seeking to obey His every command.

How can we be Fully Forgiven if Confession of our Sins is always Required?

Clearly, Christ paid for all of our sins on the Cross:

• “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12 quoting Jeremiah 31:34)

• By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14)

• Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

On top of this, our Savior has utterly removed our sins from us:

• Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19) 

If this is so, why then do we still need to confess our sins?

• If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

• And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:15-16)

Hasn’t our Savior completely eradicated our sins and promised to “remember” them “no more?” Why then the ongoing requirement to confess?

Not only is confession necessary for healing, it is also necessary for forgiveness! But hasn’t forgiveness already been accomplished? If so, why then do we need to continue to confess in order to receive His forgiveness? How can we reconcile these paradoxical teachings?

This seems to be the most biblical answer: God has entirely forgiven us and has irrevocably written our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life. However, He must complete the process through the entirety of our lives (Phil. 1:6; Romans 11:29).

Martin Luther affirmed the vital and ongoing role of confession and forgiveness in this process:

• Unless God constantly forgives, we are lost. Thus this petition really means that God does not wish to regard our sins and punish us as we daily deserve but to deal graciously with us, to forgive as he has promised, and thus to grant us a joyful and cheerful conscience so that we may stand before him in prayer.

This agrees with my own experience. When I confess my sins, I know that He has forgiven them and feel unburdened and relieved. But why should this be if He has already resolved my sin problem?

He has resolved it, but He continues to apply His forgiveness as we confess! He will remember our sins “no more” because He is constantly at work applying what He has accomplished at the Cross to our stained lives.

It is also because our Lord is continually at work in our lives that we continue in faith unto salvation. In God’s mind, all of these blessings are done-deals, but they must be worked out, and this includes our participation.

Do we have to continue in faith, repentance, and confession? Yes! We have to remain faithful to the end:

·           All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22)

·           But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Col. 1:22-23)

·           We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. (Hebrews 3:14)

Some reject this simple and direct teaching because it seems like it adds to us a work or requirement, which contradicts salvation-as-a-gift and will enable us to boast. However, continuing in faith, repentance, and confession is part of the guaranteed gift of God. The gift of faith is an ever-flowing fountain bringing us to eternal life (John 4:14; 1 Peter 1:5). However, even though salvation is a gift, we too have our role to play:

• Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Paul claimed that even though salvation is God’s doing, it is also ours. However, God gets the credit for even our obedience:

• But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Paul credited God for even his strenuous labors. Why? Weren’t these labors a matter of Paul’s initiative and effort? Yes and no! They did represent Paul’s efforts, but Paul recognized that God was even responsible for His efforts and initiative. So He gets all the credit.

Do we understand this? I don’t! We have a fancy theological name we attach to it. We call this the doctrine of compatibilism. Somehow, our contributions are compatible with God’s plan and sovereign workings in our lives. How???

Although I don’t understand this, the compatibility of God’s sovereignty with our responsibilities is mirrored throughout Scripture. For example, we have been saved, but we are being saved as we cooperate with God (Hebrews 4:11; 6:10-11; 1 Tim. 4:16). This paradox is something we just need to accept. We make responsible, free, and weighty choices, but at the end of the day, God’s will is done.

Let’s now apply all of this to the issue at hand – confession and forgiveness. Must we confess our sins? Definitely! Nevertheless, our forgiveness is assured (Jeremiah 31:34)! How? God has assured it:

• No one who is born of God will continue to sin [and also not confess], because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (1 John 3:9; 5:18)

Our Savior will not allow us to go in the wrong direction. He will lead us into confession so that He can complete His work of forgiving our sins and cleansing us.

Let’s bring this lesson back to Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness:

• For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15) 

Here’s what is clear about this teaching:

1. Our forgiving others is inseparable from God forgiving us.
2. Our refusal to forgive others, God will not forgive us.

Must we forgive others to be saved? Yes! This is related to the issue of whether we must continue in faith. We must! But is our salvation uncertain? No! It is guaranteed by the God who promised to keep us. But how? Our Savior will work in our heart to produce the necessary requirements, including forgiveness (Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 2:10).

Besides, a living faith will produce obedience. If I trust in my doctor, I will take the pills she prescribes. If I trust in God, I will do what He wants me to do.

We demonstrate our faith through obedience. This is why James could say:

• But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:18)

A real faith will lead to obedience and the forgiveness of others. If we refuse to forgive, it means that we refuse to trust our Lord. It also means that we have failed to grasp the Gospel and to realize how badly we need forgiveness.

Scripture informs us that God not only guarantees our salvation but also guarantees that He will keep us through the entire process:

• Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)