Counsels on Church Life

Counsel #4 — Confession As Worship

Picture: Counsel #4 — Confession As Worship CCL 99.1

In our relationship with God, it’s important to admit that we are sinners. We cannot worship God in the way angels do because we are fallen and impure. After our first parents sinned, humans became separated from God — the Life Giver — and faced condemnation. The consequences of sin is death and since the fall, all worship has required confession of our sins as we rely on the sacrifice of Jesus’ life to save us from eternal death. Biblical patriarchs worshipped God confessing their sins and offering a symbolic animal sacrifice until Jesus, the True Sacrifice came and died for us. Today, we continue confessing our sins to Christ our Sacrifice and Savior as He continues interceding on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary.^[129] CCL 99.2

“Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.” Nehemiah 9:2-3 CCL 99.3

“We meet for the worship of God, and to obtain spiritual strength by feeding upon the bread of life…. The season we spend together should be devoted to heart-searching, to confession of sin, and to earnest prayer. Jesus is among us, to hear our prayers, to pardon our sins, and to give us his blessing.” Ellen White in The Gospel of Health, April 1, 1898, par. 1 CCL 99.4

Reflect: Do you think you are a good person? Or do you recognize you're constantly in need of a personal Savior? CCL 99.5