Online Bible Study - Foundations of Faith

The Confession of Sins

Confession and Repentance
Confessing our sins is important. An unrepentant heart is not a worthy heart. A person should not stand before the throne of God asking to receive God's blessings, until that person has confessed his sins and received absolution. Jesus speaks in Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

Every sin must be confessed and forgiven, big or little. King David's situation, as recorded in 2 Samuel 12, is a good example. When Nathan approached David about his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, David did not try to hide his terrible sins of adultery and murder. He confessed them and was forgiven.

It is clear that no matter how terrible a sin may be, if a sinner is truly sorry for sinning, and if that person sincerely confesses his sin and receives absolution, that person will be forgiven by God. This takes place when God's representatives here on earth announce the forgiveness that has already been won by Christ, just like Nathan did for David. Listen to these reassuring words of God.

• 2 Samuel 12:13 "Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the LORD.' Nathan replied, 'The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.'"
• Jeremiah 31:34b "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
• Hebrews 10:26 "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left."

These are just a few of verses of the Bible that show that confession is a vital and required part in God's offer and promise to forgive our sins.

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