And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. | ||
| Leviticus 13:12–13 | ||
| Because leprosy that covered a person from head to foot was not active, such a one was pronounced clean. So too, when I realize I am a sinner from head to toe, from top to bottom—that I can’t cover my sin, defend myself, explain away my behavior, or justify my actions—then I am on my way to being pronounced clean. Confession is a real key to salvation . . . “I was conceived in sin,” David said (see Psalm 51:5). “Woe is me!” Isaiah cried, “for I am undone” (Isaiah 6:5). “I have sinned,” the Prodigal confessed (Luke 15:18). Confession alone, however, does not guarantee salvation . . . “I have sinned against the LORD,” Pharaoh declared (Exodus 10:16). “I have sinned,” Saul admitted (1 Samuel 15:24). “I have betrayed innocent blood,” Judas confessed (Matthew 27:4). None of these confessions resulted in salvation. You see, while confession is indeed a key to salvation, the motive for confession is important as well. The second group of men were confessing because they knew they had been caught; the first group confessed because godly sorrow had worked in them a true heart of repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Pastor Jon Courson | ||
