We are to confess unintentional sin. Christians are certainly not to tolerate the willful practice of sin in their lives. 1 John makes this abundantly and repeatedly clear. In the OT, there were only sacrifices for unintentional sin. That is, when you discovered you did something against God’s law because you did not know the law or fully understand it, you took responsibility. Confession and sacrifice were required. In the same way, reading, study, discussion, preaching and meditation point out to us things we have done that were against the royal law of love in Christ Jesus. (Oh, how often my conscience has been smitten in hindsight!) John Wesley rightly reminds us that even these sins must also have the atoning work of Christ. Sometimes, we confess the obvious sin and ask for forgiveness, but sometimes we fail to confess the little steps and unintentional oversights that were the steps that got us there.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 (NASB)
(You are reading from the book “The Master’s Table”, by H. Lamar Smith.)
