Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin. John 8:34 AMP
Sin’s purpose is to enslave you. As long as you yield to sin, it will be your master. Jesus’ whole life purpose was to free mankind from the bondage and slavery of sin by the power of His blood.
He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13 AMP
When Adam and Eve committed the first sin against God, they also ran to hide from Him. People are still hiding from God today. Sin is always followed and accompanied by guilt and also the conviction of the Holy Spirit and your own conscience. Hiding away from God and/or covering up sin will not make it disappear. Those who want to retain their sin will keep it hidden. You are not fooling God, though. If you want to be blessed, you must expose sin—bring it out of the dark and into the light—so that you can obtain mercy.
Blessed, (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]–then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalms 32:1-5 AMP
When you cover up your sin because of shame or pride, you will continue to feel guilt and condemnation. There is no peace in your heart or your life. But when you are honest with God, and you tell Him all, acknowledging your sin, and offering no excuses, then forgiveness and peace will be poured out on you. There is no more shame; you are free from the enslaving bondage of that sin!
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to the multitude of Your tender mercy and loving-kindness blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly [and repeatedly] from my iniquity and guilt and cleanse me and make me wholly pure from my sin! 3 For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done that which is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified in Your sentence and faultless in Your judgment. Psalms 51:1-4 AMP
When asking for forgiveness, it is very important to humble yourself before God, and not make excuses for your sin. If, because of pride, you defend your actions and excuse your behavior, you show no evidence of repentance, which is a prerequisite to forgiveness. It is essential that you not only declare what your sin is, but that you also acknowledge that it was a sin and that you have no excuse. You can’t fool God. If it is mere lip service made with excuses in the heart and a defensive posture, it will count for nothing with Him.
Some people are so hardened by sin that even when they are caught out in sin and exposed, they are still not sorry for their sin, only sorry that they got caught. You must admit that you have sinned before you can ask to be forgiven. Along with the admittance of guilt, there must be a willingness to bear the consequences of the sin and to make restitution. Some sin is over when it is admitted to God and forgiven by God, but some sin involves restitution. Make sure that you make right with God and man, so that you can have a truly clear conscience.
If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]. 1 John 1:8-10 AMP
You must realize that it is the will of the Father to forgive everyone and to set them free from sin! But he can only forgive those who believe His Word and who come to Him, in obedience, to be washed clean from their sin. If you say you have not sinned when you have, you are self-deceived and you will die in your sin. It is important to freely admit that you have sinned and confess your sins to God. When you do that, He will immediately forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, because He is faithful and just and because He has obligated Himself by His Word.
You have no power to right the wrongs you have done—only God can cancel your past and give you a brighter future.
