If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.-1 John 1:9

Why confess your sins to God? There are two promises in scripture. One is that God is faithful to forgive you your sins. That means his forgiveness is there for the asking, no matter what you've done.

Sometimes the magnitude of the idea that there's no sin beyond the power of God to forgive is overwhelming, not to mention unbelievable. We love to show forgiveness that requires no effort. We feel good when we freely forgive someone who steps on our foot, yet we would refuse to forgive someone for committing adultery with our spouse.

Is it then any wonder that so many people wander through life, running from God, afraid of God because of a horrible sin they committed. It is not that God will not forgive them, but that they could not forgive others if they'd committed the same sin against them. Christ himself has us pray, 'forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors'. If we can't forgive our debtors, how can we be forgiven? But, the fact is that we can let go of pain and bitterness, we can both freely be forgiven and forgive.

The second wonderful promise of God is to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. This is important. God is not like a man who will fill our leaky tire and send us down the road of life. He wants that tire to be whole. To confess your sin to God is to ask for him to use his cleansing power to change your life. Remember, repentance was the first message of Christ. (Matt. 4:17)

Confession must be accompanied by repentance and God will by His grace sustain you and cleanse you. The good news about confession is that you don't have to do the same stupid, sinful thing again, but rather can overcome by the Blood of the Lamb. Now, some will quote this scripture to tell us that God will forgive us our sins, but its important to emphasize that the scripture promises both forgiveness and cleansing from unrighteousness. So, we can be forgiven and live better lives thereafter.