Counsel on Confession

"If we confess our sins, [H]e is [F]aithful and [J]ust to forgive us our sins..."

Christians have been told since the beginning of their Christian life to confess their sins as soon as the sin is committed. That is not sound counsel. Do I suggest, as some, that our sins are already forgiven and, therefore, confession is not needed? God forbid! Those who suggest that must realize that we have been forgiven by God in His office of Judge. We must still confess our sins today and tomorrow to our Loving Father. That is the difference. At the beginning we stood before the Judge, and after that we stand before a Father. At the beginning we confessed sin committed against the law and the Law-Giver. Now we confess sin committed against a Loving but displeased Father. That is the difference.
Why does this writer then suggest that one should not confess all sin right away? Because godly sorrow has not yet set in. When one commits sin he is afterwards still in its thrall (generally speaking), and, therefore, unprepared to confess. I grant that sometimes one is broken immediately, and sin can and should be confessed immediately. However, most of the time we are not sufficiently broken, and rigid, cold, "confessed" sin will not be forgiven; hence, the unforgiving spirit of believers today.
When this occurs one can only confess the coldness of one's heart and wait upon the Spirit of brokenness to visit. The confession might go like this... "Lord, I'm sorry that I am not sorry." God wants your honesty and not your empty motions.

Buried in Christ,
St. Loder