Confessions

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Exodus 32:15-24

Three Aspects of Relationship

1. King to citizens – The Ten Commandments are the “Constitution” of the nation.

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• Husband to wife – The Ten Commandments are the marriage certificate.

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• Parent to child – The Ten Commandments are the adoption papers that makes Israel “God’s son”

Confessions

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Exodus 32:15-24

Deuteronomy 9:21

“I took your sinful thing, the calf which you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small until it was as fine as dust; and I threw its dust into the brook that came down from the mountain.”

Confessions

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Exodus 32:15-24

Deuteronomy 9:20

“The Lord was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him; so I also prayed for Aaron at the same time.

Romans 2:1

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

Confessions

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Exodus 32:15-24

Psalm 51:2–4

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.”

Confessions

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Exodus 32:15-24

Technics to Cover Guilt

1. Grade on a scale that minimizes guilt - I’m better that something else or someone else I can point to. (Luke 18:11-12)
2. My virtues overshadows my problems – I am a good person who at times does questionable things. “No one should be evaluated only on their worst moment.”
3. Minimize guilt based on improvement – “I have stumbled, but overall I have grown in that area.”
4. The context makes this understandable – The situation I was in, the pressure I was under, the few options I had, make it understandable that I sinned. “If you know what it takes to live with him, you would understand why I left.”
5. We re-define and water-down actions – “I was not angry; I’m type-A. I just got animated.” “I didn’t gossip, I shared my concerns with someone.”

1 John 1:8

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Covering Guilt

Ecclesiastes 3:17 “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.”

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2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

1 John 1:8-9

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Psalm 51:9–10

“Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”