Proverbs 28:13: How to Obtain Mercy

"Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Proverbs 28:13

For those of us who are familiar with the truth of the Gospel (which hopefully is all of us!), we know that there is no sin that we can commit that would cause God to leave us. If we are truly saved, God will extend mercy towards every sin that we commit because that sin has already been paid for by Christ on the cross. However, the lie that we often believe is that this fact warrants us to not do anything after we have sinned. We often sin, move on, and forget about it, but is this truly the pattern that scripture lays out for us?

Note the verse above. Not only does it tell us that those who "hide transgressions will not prosper," but it gives us a two-step process on how to obtain mercy. First, those who wish to obtain mercy must confess their sin. This is the action of making our sin known to both God and man. When we confess our sin, we "get it off our chest" by telling God that we did it and also our close friends or accountability partner. However, so often we stop there and forget the second step of the process: forsaking our sin. How many times have you met someone who shared with you their sins, perhaps excessively, only followed by not doing anything about them? They desire to get their burden off their back of hiding their sin, but they do not desire to forsake the pleasure that the sin gives them. They confess their sin, and they think that that warrants them to continue doing it because they are no longer hiding it from others. Although this might make sense in our minds, it is not the pattern of scripture. Scripture commands us to both confess and forsake our sin, that is, to make it known to God and man, but also to turn from it. A biblical definition of this pattern would be repentance, that is, a way of life that causes us to constantly be turning from sin to God.

So, how have you been at confessing and forsaking your sin? Perhaps you have done neither, and you need to release the burden of hidden sin off your back that is tearing you up from the inside out. I encourage you to find a beloved brother or sister in Christ whom you trust to confess to. Or perhaps you have confessed your sin, but you have not forsaken it. I encourage you today: turn from your sin, and cleave to Jesus. Although the promises of sin are enticing, don't give in. Sin lies; Jesus tells the truth. Sin delivers death; Jesus delivers life. Choose life, that you may live. Confess and forsake. Amen.

"When we set sin before our face God casts it behind his back." - Matthew Henry