Confessing Sin

 James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Many Bible translations use the word sin in place of fault. The root interpretation of sin is to miss the mark, to come short of God’s perfection. The fall of Adam and Eve changed the nature of humanity. The human body is now subject to failure and shortcomings. We often say, “We are not perfect, we are all still human.” We still deal with human weaknesses. As humans, we still make mistakes and errors from doing everything perfectly, but our hearts can always be faultless before God. Scripture says that Christians cannot sin, (1 John 3:9). Yet, it is possible for a believer to still commit sin. But, if we want to remain in Christ, we will not live a life of sinning.  Satan knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and will exploit them, causing us to fall. Temptation to sin would not be temptation if it were not possible to transgress the laws of God. Giving our heart in full surrender in sanctification, letting the Holy Spirit take residence in our heart will give us the ability to resist the temptations of Satan. Confession is made possible by restoring one back to fellowship with God. “And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2:1). If we also confess our sins one to another, the prayer of other believers God will hear and heal broken fellowship. It is not God’s will that Christians fall when tempted. He has made a way of escape. It is not His will that Christians live in sin, but His will that they be delivered from sin. Thank God, He has provided grace and mercy to them that seek and ask forgiveness. We need not despair, get up, face your fault or sin, confess, and move forward with God.

We Do Not Have To Fall

Jude 1:24 “ Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,”- 

If no one is perfect, then why does the Word say that we can be faultless? If it is not possible not to sin, then why does the Word say that He can keep us from falling? It would be arrogant to think that in our own human efforts that we can keep ourselves faultless. So, it would stand to reason that with God all things are possible, and if we seek Him first in everything we do that he can lead us through times of temptation and keep us spotless from the taint of sin. Praise be to God who is able by His power and grace to sustain us in our time of need and help us to stay focus on the mark. We don’t have to “miss the mark” if you keep our eyes on Jesus.