1. “I HAVE SINNED”

2. “I have sinned” Words we have all heard and probably said ourselves We are sinners – Rom. 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10 “I have sinned” found 19 times in Bible. Let us notice some times it is used

3. Pharaoh Exodus 9:27, 10:16 Twice, plagues of hail and locust No evidence of repentance Are there some who confess sins to get immediate relief? True repentance – 2 Cor. 7:10-11

4. Balaam Numbers 22:34 Following this, Balaam sought a way around the Lord’s will Num. 25, 31:16 Balaam’s sin– 2 Pet. 2:15, Jude 11, Rev. 2:14 Do some today seek a way around their confession?

5. Achan Joshua 7:20 Achan’s confession was after he was caught. Was he sincere? WE don’t know, but after the fact confession is often suspect. (It can be genuine) There were consequences Do we seen the “soft landing”?

6. King Saul 1 Sam. 15:24, 30 After his sin exposed by Samuel. He confessed but made excuses When we confess, is it conditional? “But…”

7. Judas Matt. 27:3-4 After seeing Jesus would be condemned. We see genuine remorse, but he did not handle it properly When we confess, we need to do the right thing! Clear yourself! (cf. Lk. 19:8 – Zacchaeus)

8. Nehemiah Neh. 1:6 He prays to God for sins of the people, but begins with himself. When we confess, we begin with our part in it (cf. Matt. 7:1-5)

9. King David 2 Sam. 12:13, Psa. 41:4, 51:3-4 Also confession “after the fact” BUT, NO blame of others. Sincere and remorseful This is the attitude we need.

10. The Prodigal Son Luke 15:18, 21 Determined to make things right. He followed through! Humility! A parable about God’s forgiveness. We must TRULY repent and confess! With humility

11. HAVE YOU CONFESSED… AND OBEYED? Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:9