I

recall someone asking me, a number of years ago, why we needed to

have a prayer of confession in our worship services. He thought the

confession of sin diminished the joy of worship, and he didn’t see

why forgiven sinners needed to keep asking God to forgive them.

The

short answer to this question can be found in the Lord’s Prayer.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive

everyone who sins against us” (Luke 11:4). If the prayer that Jesus

taught us includes a plea of confession, then clearly believers need

to ask for forgiveness regularly. And since the confession of sin in

the Lord’s Prayer involves our relationships with others, it makes

sense to pray this together, as a community of believers who receive

and extend forgiveness.

Confession

does convey the depressing reality of sin’s impact on our lives. In

Psalm 51, David is overwhelmed with guilt as he is made aware of his

sin. His anguish moves him to repentance.

But

notice that this psalm is also joyful as David anticipates praising

the God who forgives. Prayers of confession are gateways to joy!

Jesus,

who taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins,” is the one by whom

those sins are forgiven. Praise the Lord!