Importance of Confession

When it comes to confession, there is no shortage of opinions.  Because of individual experiences, backgrounds, and church practices, there is a wide range about the importance and practice of confession.  Some think it is only necessary between the sinner and God, and others have times in their meetings set aside for "open confession."  In Edwin Orr's book "All Your Need," the evangelist spoke of the importance of public confession to make way for revival.  He was careful to point out that he moderated the gathering with specific instructions:  he strongly objected to detailed confessions and warned he would silence any offender; he always exhorted born-again Christians - not the unsaved - to confess the hindrance to revival; and after explaining the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sins, he spoke of "confession as a means to forgiveness and blessing." (Orr, J. Edwin, "All Your Need 10,000 Miles of Miracle through Austraila and New Zealand." Marshall, Morgan & Scott, London, page 119)

In the Bible we read of private confession before God and public confession before men.  Jesus commanded those who had sinned against someone to go to them alone in humility for reconciliation.  Orr contends in many cases sins which are not openly confessed leads to inevitable defeat.  I agree with this assessment based upon the examples and commands of scripture.  How this should be implemented requires the leading of the Holy Spirit, a thorough examination of motives, and an attitude of prayer.  1 John 1:9 says concerning private confession before God, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Confession before God is adequate for us to be forgiven before a holy God.  But experience has shown all of us it does not mean we will forsake the very same sin or experience the victory God has given through Jesus.

Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."  Because a man cannot hide or cover his sin from the eyes of God, I believe this passage is speaking about hiding our sins from others.  Since this is the context, humbly confessing our sins to one another is a key step to actually forsaking them and receiving the mercy of God.  That sin you may be battling, the shameful struggle you have not dared to admit to another person, may require you to confess biblically to be free of it.  It is written in James 5:16, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."  In obedience to the word of God we can have absolute confidence our confession of sin and fervent prayer with others will avail much.

There are examples of this in the New Testament.  After the woman with the flow of blood touched the hem of Christ's garment He stopped and asked, "Who touched me?"  He proceeded to turn around a look at her who had done this.  Before Him and all the people she fell at His feet and confessed all.  After hearing her words Jesus said, "Your faith has made you whole."  Confession was part of the process to wholeness (Mark 5:33-34).  Another great example of the benefit of public confession which resulted in freedom from bondage to sin is in Acts 19:18-20:  "And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. ¹⁹ Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."  Christians who had been in sin confessed their deeds, and many who had practiced magic in the past brought their books to be burned.  And what was the result?  The word of the LORD grew mightily and prevailed.  The implication is these people had the word of God before, but it was not until they took the step to burn their other books the scriptures could prevail in their personal lives and their city.  What might we be keeping in our closet or library which ought to go because it is restraining the effectiveness of God's Word?

There is a deception of the enemy all we need to do is confess our sin to God and we have done what is necessary for wholeness.  In one sense it is true God has done everything for us and is enough, but He has also sovereignly placed us with others to comprise the Body of Christ, His church.  Why does He tell us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another if "talking only to God about it" would suffice?  Having "accountability" is talked about these days, but how can we be accountable to anyone if we do not first confess?  Perhaps the reluctance to public confession comes as a reaction against Roman Catholic confession or because of damage by grossly detailed confessions which have torn families and churches apart.  Regardless of the reasons we would rather not "go there," I am convinced confession according to scripture is needful.  May the LORD guide and direct each one of us in how to be obedient and honour God in this area.  When confession is done correctly as led by the Holy Spirit, the Body of Christ will be strengthened and edified.