Confession
Christians should confess their sins daily in order to receive forgiveness. The Lord asked Adam and Eve to admit their sin (Genesis 3) before they could receive His promise of grace and mercy through the plan of salvation. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
Sins should be confessed first to God. For Jesus is our Mediator who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” and is able to cleanse from every stain of iniquity (Hebrews 4:15). In addition, sins are to be confessed to the ones that have been wronged. The Bible teaches, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16).
Faults may be of such a secret nature as to be presented before God only; or they could be of a public nature, and should then be publicly confessed. In any case, all confessions should be definite and to the point, admitting the very sins of which the sinner is guilty of.
Paul admitted publicly his sins saying, “Many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests… And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them…” (Acts 26:10, 11). And he didn’t not hesitate to acknowledge that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Repentance
After admitting the sins, the sinner needs to pray, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). And his prayer will be heard. For “the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18). However, confession will not be accepted by God without honest repentance.
The Lord said, “put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16, 17). Wickedness must be put out of the life of God’s children. Evil will not exist in the holy atmosphere of heaven, and all who enter the new Jerusalem will be pure.
God’s Peace
God assures His children, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 also Ezekiel 33:15). Faithfulness is one of the God’s outstanding characteristics (1 Corinthians 1:9; 10:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 10:23).
For those that have confessed and repented for their sins, God offers, as a free gift of His grace, complete pardon and reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ. Then, the humble and broken in heart will experience the love and peace of God that passes all understanding (Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
