How to Break Free from Shame through Confession

How can we break free from shame through confession and experience God’s faithfulness?

Find out what 1 John 1:9 teaches us about confession and God’s character in this beautiful post by guest author Brenda Savanhu.

How to Break Free from Shame through Confession

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)

John wrote that if we confess our sins, God forgives and cleanses us.

As a child, I was afraid of God. I viewed Him as the perpetually displeased Father in the sky. The gospel I received focused excessively on His punishment, neglecting His faithfulness and love. Do not get me wrong, I prayed the prayer of salvation, but it was a one and done for me. I prayed and ran. After all, who wants to be in the presence of an angry person?

Unfortunately, it was not until years later that I understood the necessity of my participation to enter His presence for purification and to experience His true nature. Praise God, I eventually learned what John teaches us here: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

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What Confession Means

In the key verse, we learn an aspect of God’s faithfulness to forgive and cleanse us, but it is conditional on the precedence of our confession. The beginning of our verse, “If we confess,” tells us our participation is required for God to activate the following promise John shares with us.

The word confess in this verse is Homologeō¹ in Greek, a compound of two words, Legō¹meaning say or tell; and Homoisis¹ meaning like or similar. To sum it all up, John uses confess to instruct us to agree with God, to say what He is saying. Yes, we have sin (1 John 1:8).

To confess means to agree with God, to say what He is saying. #Biblestudy #confession #forgiveness Share on X

The next two words, “our sins,” make clear ownership and the ongoing nature of sin. Charles Spurgeon notes, “[John] uses the plural to include both sin in its essence and in its actual development in our lives. We are to confess both the inward sin and the outward fruit of it.”^2. As noted in 1 John 1:8, denial of sin is deceitful and results in banishment from the Lord’s presence (Psalm 101:5), which further underscores the necessity of confession.

Experiencing God’s Faithfulness to Forgive

Now, the second half of our verse is the part I love, the freedom on the other side! After we confess and take ownership of our sin, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“Faithful and just” show God’s nature, removing all, not some of our unrighteousness. He fulfills His promises, and we can consider Him faithful, just as Sarah did when God promised her a child well past her childbearing age (Hebrews 11:11). She knew God was faithful, which, according to Marvin Vincent, is God being “True to His own nature and promises; keeping faith with Himself and with man.”³   

John also uses the word “just” to describe God, which in Greek is Dikaios¹, meaning righteous. Friends, only the righteous One can cleanse me and you from all unrighteousness (John 7:18).  

Being faithful and just shows God's nature, removing all, not some of our unrighteousness. #trustGod #forgiveness #confession Share on X

Confession Reveals God’s Character

So, now that we are clear on our responsibility, His faithfulness, justice and promise to us, how do we feel about confessing our sins to Him?

If we are still hesitant to approach Him with our confession, let us flip back to Lamentations 3:22-23, where we are told God is merciful! His mercies are new every morning! This is great news for us because right now, on this day, we can confess our sins, and He will be faithful to cleanse us!

The word “cleanse” in our text is Katharizō¹, in Greek, meaning to make clean. This is the same word used in Titus 2:14, where the Apostle Paul reminds Titus that Jesus sacrificed Himself to redeem us, cleanse us, and claim us for His own possession. This very act made it possible for our forgiveness upon the confession of our sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). What a gift!

Overcoming Shame as an Obstacle to Confession

If you’re anything like me, even after years of being a believer, you are caught up in sin. I told a friend the other day that, because I lean toward being a people-pleaser, it is hard for me to come to a place of confession because I can be very hard on myself in that place.

Shame has been a significant obstacle in my relationship with God from childhood and well into adulthood. I can be so ashamed of my actions, telling myself I do not want to experience the Father’s wrath or disappointment. As I matured and learned more about His character, I engaged in confession, slowly at first, and it continues to grow.

While confession is still something I struggle with, I am more intentional about biting the proverbial bullet. Setting aside quiet time to confess instead of letting it sit and stew for an untold amount of time has been a game-changer for me. Thankfully, I learned His mercies are new every morning. I am also grateful that He keeps His promises, and He is clear on how I can partner with Him in this case, confession. And my doing so grants me the gift of His character.

Your Turn

What are some self-imposed judgments that have prevented you from confessing your sins to God? i.e., shame, guilt, pride. What steps can you take to close this gap between you and God? There is no time like the present to confess, so friend, would you pray with me?

Prayer of Confession

Father, I repent of my sins today and ask that You would be faithful to forgive me. Father, I thank You for being patient with me and waiting as I ran. I thank You for being faithful to forgive my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness after I humbled myself to confess my sins to You. May Your grace and mercy point me to Your presence daily. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Struggling with shame and guilt? Discover how 1 John 1:9 unlocks God's faithfulness when you confess. #confession #forgiveness #Biblestudy Share on X

Meet Brenda Savanhu

NOTES

1. Brannan, Rick. The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament. Logos Bible Software, 2011.
2. Spurgeon, Charles. Spurgeon Commentary: 1 John. Edited by Elliot Ritzema. Spurgeon Commentary Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.
3. Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887.

More Encouragement for You

If you need more resources and encouragement to help you draw near to God in your pain and struggles, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.

Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu

Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk

Transforming Your Thought Life by Sarah Geringer

Numbering Our Days:  Combating Anxiety in the Power of Small Intentional Moments by Nichole J. Suvar

Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert

Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst

Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley

Restoration Year – a 365-Day Devotional by John Eldredge

The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips

Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer

Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe

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