What is confession?

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Confession is a very simple concept, but thousands of years of Catholic influence have corrupted how we think about confession. Oxford defines confession as an acknowledgement that one has done something about which one is ashamed or a statement setting out essential religious doctrine.

Confession is agreement

When you have done something wrong. Everyone already knows it. If you have hurt someone, they already know it. If you have sinned, they already know it. You’re not hiding anything. You’re not fooling anybody. Not for long. Everything will be exposed in time. Confession acknowledges what is already known. It clears the air. It allows you to start fresh.

When David sinned, he couldn’t hide it. People talked. Everyone heard. But, it took someone with God-given courage to face him with his sin. Afterwards, David told us what it was like.

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. (Psalm 32:3-4 NLT)

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

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. (2 Samuel 12:13)

  • All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,  for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  • 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)

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. (Psalm 32:5)

Everyone will confess eventually

You have the choice to voluntarily confess your sins to God and your faults to one another. But, if you refuse, be afraid because there is coming a time when you won’t be able to keep hiding.

  • By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will confess allegiance. (Isaiah 45:23)
  • For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11-12)
  • That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)

You have the option to confess now

Is there something in your life that you have done wrong, which everyone already knows anyway? Won’t you admit it to them, and clear the air, so you can live in godly holiness?

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.” (Daniel 4:27)

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. (Psalm 51:1-2)

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!  Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,  whose lives are lived in complete honesty! (Psalm 32:1-2)

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)