1 John 1: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession’s Role in the Forgiveness of Sins
Previously in this Faith Statement, I had confessed my belief in justification by faith, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and forgiveness of sins through belief in Jesus, particularly toward the ends of God’s statement that He would remember the sins of His consecrated people no more in Jeremiah. So then, where does confession fit into this biblically?
Well, the first letter of John is pretty descriptive on the Early Church’s teachings on salvation and forgiveness in respect to confession. I noticed immediately that John begins by stating Jesus had already cleansed men of their sin. This is in congruence with Jesus’s parable of the unrepentant servant, where the King had forgiven the servant of his debt out of mercy, rather the merits of servant himself.
John then explains that men must acknowledge that they still have sin. This is much in line with Paul’s profession that there is no man who is just or righteous (Romans 3:10). God states He would remember our sins no more, but this was explicitly because Jesus died to redeem us by His blood. This is why Jesus was stated as constantly interceding for us, first in Hebrews and then again in Romans:
Hebrews 7:23: Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
Romans 8:33: Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God— and He is interceding for us.
So, if confession does not cleanse us of our sin by God, why do it? I believe it to be because confession is integral to repentance, and that confession enables us to mend the wounds and entail the forgiveness of those people we wronged on earth. 1 John 8 makes it clear that if we do not acknowledge our sin, the truth is not in us.
Confession is a Necessary Form of Worship
We must confess our sins because it humbles us as sinners and justifies Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. We can’t appreciate God’s mercy if we don’t acknowledge that we needed it in the first place. How deep does this narrative go? Well, how about we skip my beloved New Covenant passage in Jeremiah, collect $200, and proceed (precede?) directly to Isaiah?
Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 43:25: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
In this regard, this confession of sin is humbling oneself and in turn exalting Jesus as the Messiah. In this way it is integral to acceptance of the Gospel. Looking back to the Lord’s Prayer, God’s covenant in Jeremiah, and the parable of the unrepentant sinner, it appears that one of the deeper themes of God’s plan for salvation was it established on an economy of mercy.
Matthew 6:11: Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Just as God has forgiven our sins through the payment of blood by Jesus Christ, we are not only expected to forgive others, but that it is integral to realizing our faith:
Jesus’s prelude to the unforgiving servant:
Matthew 18:21: Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Jesus’s conclusion to the unforgiving servant:
Matthew 18:32: You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
I have additional support for this scriptural assertion from both the Old and New Testament to emphasize its scriptural congruence:
Colossians 3:13: Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
2 Chronicles 7:14 : If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Confession Does Not Require Priestly Mediators Outside of Jesus
Notice how literally none of this requires a priest, at all. In all of those verses the singular mechanic of grace and forgiveness of sins, was God. Confessing to those you’ve wrong bears value in that it publicly glorifies God. Confessing your sins directly to Him bears value because it is a declaration of your unrighteousness and a exalts Him for His mercy. No church administrators are needed to validate an honest confession and you won’t find such a practice mandated for Christians in the scriptures.
I’m not saying there is no benefit to confessing to a priest, the added layer of accountability can certainly be a boon. But, what I am saying is that non-Roman Catholics are losing nothing when they directly confess their sins to God for forgiveness from Him, and their sins to others so that they are humbled and in a position for the wronged brethren to reconcile their transgression on earth. Jesus is wholly sufficient as our eternal High Priest.
Hebrews 4:14: Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.