Confession

[Woody]

The topic of confession came up in another thread. It got me to thinking ...

Do we confess our sins ... to be saved ... or because we are saved?

[John317]

Confession of sins is agreeing with God. It's saying you acknowledge your wrong and that you agree with God's diagnosis. Confession is humbling the heart before God and fulfills a condition of forgiveness. It allows us to receive God's blessing and healing.

See Lev. 16: 21-- confessing sins transferred sin to the sacrificial animal.

In confessing our sins, we are giving our sins over to Christ for Him to bear away. If He doesn't take them, then we bear them.

Numbers 5: 7-- we are to confess the sin which we have done

Ps. 38: 18-- we declare our iniquity to God-- we are sorry for our sin

Romans 10: 9, 10--IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

James 5: 16-- Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

1 John 1: 9--IF we confess our sins, [Christ] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13.

Quote:

The conditions of obtaining mercy of God are simple and just and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order that we may have the forgiveness of sin. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression; but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy.

The apostle says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." James 5:16. Confess your sins to God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to seek the forgiveness of God, because the brother you have wounded is the property of God, and in injuring him you sinned against his Creator and Redeemer. The case is brought before the only true Mediator, our great High Priest, who "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," and who is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities," and is able to cleanse from every stain of iniquity. Hebrews 4:15.

Those who have not humbled their souls before God in acknowledging their guilt, have not yet fulfilled the first condition of acceptance. If we have not experienced that repentance which is not to be repented of, and have not with true humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit confessed our sins, abhorring our iniquity, we have never truly sought for the forgiveness of sin; and if we have never sought, we have never found the peace of God. The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the word of truth. Explicit instruction is given concerning this matter. Confession of sin, whether public or private, should be heartfelt and freely expressed. It is not to be urged from the sinner. It is not to be made in a flippant and careless way, or forced from those who have no realizing sense of the abhorrent character of sin. The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost soul finds its way to the God of infinite pity. The psalmist says, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18.

True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. SC 37, 38

[B Humble]

Confession of sins is explicitly taught in the New Testament and Old. There is a powerful story in Mt. 9...

1.And he entered into a ship, and passed over , and came into his own city.

2. And, behold , they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3. And, behold , certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth . (This is how the carnal man reacts to a man saying "thy sins are forgiven")

4.And Jesus knowing their thoughts said , Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5.For whether is easier, to say , Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say , Arise , and walk ?

6. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise , take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7.And he arose , and departed to his house.

8.But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled , and glorified God, which had given such POWER UNTO MEN"

[Gerr]

The topic of confession came up in another thread. It got me to thinking ...

Do we confess our sins ... to be saved ... or because we are saved?

Confession clearly precedes forgiveness & salvation as the 2 responders have shown. That's why the idea that all were saved in Christ 2000 yrs ago is only half true. The provision for salvation was made 2000 yrs ago, nay, the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world!!!, but that provision was/is of no use until the sinner believes, repents, confesses his sins, and accepts the gift/provision made.

Gerry

[John317]

Confession of sins is explicitly taught in the New Testament and Old. There is a powerful story in Mt. 9...

3. And, behold , certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth . (This is how the carnal man reacts to a man saying "thy sins are forgiven")

8.But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled , and glorified God, which had given such POWER UNTO MEN"

Yes, the power to forgive sins was given to Jesus Christ.

We are to forgive those who sin against us, but we don't have the power to forgive the sins that other people commit.

We each must repent and ask for forgiveness for ourselves.

The Catholic view is the priest is able to forgive sins.

[B Humble]

Originally Posted By: B Humble

Confession of sins is explicitly taught in the New Testament and Old. There is a powerful story in Mt. 9...

3. And, behold , certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth . (This is how the carnal man reacts to a man saying "thy sins are forgiven")

8.But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled , and glorified God, which had given such POWER UNTO MEN"

Yes, the power to forgive sins was given to Jesus Christ.

We are to forgive those who sin against us, but we don't have the power to forgive the sins that other people commit.

We each must repent and ask for forgiveness for ourselves.

The Catholic view is the priest is able to forgive sins.

Catholic view or not, this scripture is very explicit, that "Such POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO MEN" (PLURAL)

[John317]

Originally Posted By: John317

Yes, the power to forgive sins was given to Jesus Christ.

We are to forgive those who sin against us, but we don't have the power to forgive the sins that other people commit.

We each must repent and ask for forgiveness for ourselves.

The Catholic view is the priest is able to forgive sins. [/quote']

Catholic view or not, this scripture is very explicit, that "Such POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO MEN" (PLURAL)

What do you understand it to be saying and how do you apply it in your own experience? Do you believe that God has given you the power to forgive other men's sins? For instance, do you have power to forgive my sins?

[B Humble]

Originally Posted By: B Humble

What do you understand it to be saying and how do you apply it in your own experience?

I think I was pretty clear about what I thought it was saying. Just as God gave men power to:

1. Bind in marry

2. Baptize and make disciples

3. Excommunicate

4. Lay hands upon the sick and anoint them

5. Ordain Elders..etc

6. Have authority over the followers

So, also, He gave them power to forgive sins.

[Gerr]

Quote:

Quote:

The Catholic view is the priest is able to forgive sins.

Catholic view or not, this scripture is very explicit, that "Such POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO MEN" (PLURAL)

Can you atone for my sins?

Gerry

[BobRyan]

Confession of sins is explicitly taught in the New Testament and Old. There is a powerful story in Mt. 9...

1.And he entered into a ship, and passed over , and came into his own city.

2. And, behold , they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer ; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3. And, behold , certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth . (This is how the carnal man reacts to a man saying "thy sins are forgiven")

4.And Jesus knowing their thoughts said , Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5.For whether is easier, to say , Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say , Arise , and walk ?

6. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise , take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7.And he arose , and departed to his house.

8.But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled , and glorified God, which had given such POWER UNTO MEN"

Hint - Christ IS GOD -- humans are not! In the text above it is CHRIST that is saying "your sins are forgiven" -- NOT ONCE do we find any disciple - apostle - believer saying to someone "I FORGIVE your sins" or "I have the power to forgive sins". In James 5 we see the perfect example of how forgiveness of sins is obtained EVEN in the context of Elders coming and annointing the sick. It is through prayer -- through an appeal to God himself. No magical powers of the elders where they "grant absolution".

ONLY Christ makes the argument in the text above "That you may KNOW that the SON OF MAN hath POWER" and his argument is EXPLICIT in it's application to "the Son of Man".

1. The Catholic argument is to ignore the words of Christ in this case and pay attention only to the non-Christians that were observing and who at that time did NOT think Christ was GOD!

2. By appealing to those that we all know -- to have some flaws in their doctrinal view of Christ at the time - the RCC had hoped to convince those who are not paying attention to the details in the text.

3. The RCC presents this as MAGIC power that is given to a priest that can not be removed EVEN if that priest is excoummunicated -- he RETAINS THE POWER to turn break into God and to forgive sins (provide absolution).

How in the world could we have ignore such a high degree of doctrinal error?

Notice that even the RCC's own document "the Faith Explained" argues that IF they did not have the power to turn bread into God -- then they would be guilty of worshipping BREAD as though it were God.

Sad to say - I must agree with them on that point!!

in Christ,

Bob

[B Humble]

Quote:

Quote:

The Catholic view is the priest is able to forgive sins.

Catholic view or not, this scripture is very explicit, that "Such POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO MEN" (PLURAL)

Can you atone for my sins?

Gerry

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi Redwood,

I haven't read all the posts to your question, but I can tell you that I confess my sins when God convicts me and I know that I have violated Him in some way.

Confession of sins, for me personally, comes after my heart is saddened for what I have do to my Father. I do it because I love Him not because of any other reason.

Now for the theology. I would not be capable of such a process if I did not have a relationship with Him. Just said that eternal life is to know the Father and Son, not simply know about them. This reveals a saved position and John also said if you don't have the Son you don't have life. He also said without me ye can do nothing.

Now that I have said that, a person is only saved by faith in Christ. By grace through faith. How ever when the Holy Spirit moves upon the heart of an unbeliever they will repent, confess and ask for forgiveness. Without this they cannot be saved, however this is not what saves them. It isonly part of the work of salvation. It is the response to a work in the soul which God has awakened or started in them by the Holy Spirit. It is a gift.

To answer your question, yes to both in their proper time and place, but they are part of the process not the total. Just as the sacrificial system had many parts and services so they reveal to us that it is sinple but yet intricate.

Norman

[B Humble]

Originally Posted By: John317

Yes, the power to forgive sins was given to Jesus Christ.

We are to forgive those who sin against us, but we don't have the power to forgive the sins that other people commit.

We each must repent and ask for forgiveness for ourselves.

The Catholic view is the priest is able to forgive sins. [/quote']

Catholic view or not, this scripture is very explicit, that "Such POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO MEN" (PLURAL)

Answer: Even on a purely physical outlook, it is well known that both to confess your sins to another is important and just as important is it to hear from the person who hears the confession, "your sins are forgiven". Because, the nature of man is such, when he hears from a man that his sins are forgiven, it instills in his heart that God will forgive him also. Likewise, man will go to a minister to be baptized or to be married as confirmation of the authority of God being fixed in his mind.