Luke 15:18

It is quite certain that those whom Christ has washed in his precious blood do not need to make a confession of sin as culprits or criminals before God the Judge. For Christ has forever taken away all their sins in a legal sense, so they no longer stand where they can be condemned but are once for all accepted in the Beloved.

However, having become children and offending as children, should they not every day go before their heavenly Father and confess their sin, and acknowledge their iniquity in that capacity?

Nature teaches that it is the duty of erring children to make a confession to their earthly father, and the grace of God in the heart teaches us that we, as Christians, owe the same duty to our heavenly Father. We daily offend, and should not rest without daily pardon.

For, suppose that my trespasses against my Father are not at once taken to him to be washed away by the cleansing power of the Lord Jesus—what will be the consequence? If I have not sought forgiveness and been washed from these offenses against my Father, I shall feel at a distance from him; I shall doubt his love for me; I shall tremble at him; I shall be afraid to pray to him: I shall grow like the prodigal, who, although still a child, was nevertheless far off from his father.

But if, with a child’s sorrow at offending so gracious and loving a Parent, I go to him and tell him all, and do not rest until I realize that I am forgiven, then I shall feel a holy love for my Father. I shall go through my Christian career not only as saved but as one enjoying present peace in God through Jesus Christ my Lord.

There is a wide distinction between confessing sin as a culprit and confessing sin as a child. The Father’s bosom is the place for penitent confessions. We have been cleansed once for all, but our feet still need to be washed from the defilement of our daily walk as children of God.