By Ezekiel Kimosop
The answer to this question can be identified by examining the word of God.
The Bible says in John 1:12 that as many as received Him (Christ, by faith), to them He gave the right to become (or be adopted as) the children of God. This confirms that believers are members of God's household who share in His heritage in Christ.
The teaching on divine adoption is more precisely articulated in Romans 8:12-17.
Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
This Scripture conveys a powerful assurance that every child of God should cherish. The Bible here confirms that our legal standing in Christ Jesus is incontestable. It has been settled at Calvary!
This is what separates believers from those outside Christ.
John 8:36 says "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
Now having said as much, we recognize that no believer is ever perfect. We are not without sin on earth (1 John 1:8-10). We have to contend with this reality until we appear before the Risen Christ in heaven.
Therefore, whenever we appear before the presence of God in prayer, we are not in sinful condemnation because His divine wrath has already been appeased in Christ, concerning us. Our separation from God was resolved the moment we yielded to Christ. We have already been set apart as children of God, a community of people belonging to God. Our sin in Adam has been completely wiped out the moment we placed our faith in Christ and no charge can be brought by Satan against us on that account.
This does not however imply that we have no sin to confess when we come before God in prayer! We have a sinful nature in the human body and mind which is a residue of the old Adamic nature. Even though we are not under the control of sin, we cannot escape the presence and influence of sin under the sun. No matter how carefully we walk, we can never attain spiritual perfection on Earth. Christ alone was and is without sin (2 Cor. 5:21).
Sin ruins our fellowship with God and should be confessed by every child of God whenever we appear before Him. Those who deny this truth are denying the authority of Scripture.
This is the foundation of 1 John 1:8-10 which says "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
We should therefore confess our sins, known or unknown, even as we rejoice in the finished works of the cross.vv
There's a Scripture test which informs our conviction on sin and disobedience. 1 John 3:20-21 says "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."
Hebrews 4:14-16 says "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
This boldness is informed by our covenant relationship with God in Christ. Without the legal cover that Christ has provided in His atoning works, no flesh can approach the presence of God and live to tell it!
Shalom
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020
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