Online Bible Study - Foundations of Faith

The Confession of Sins

Why is confession so important?
We have already learned about God's great and loving gift of forgiveness, through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead, that purchased full forgiveness for all mankind. 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." Jesus points out that it is a prerequisite that each time we come to God in worship and praise we must settle our differences with our enemies, co-workers, family, friends and the like. That is done by having the knowledge of and sorrow for our sins, which leads us to the act of confession. If we come face to face with the sin that is in our heart, and if we confess that sin openly to God, we have indeed taken a most important step in the process of reconciliation.

When Nathan brought David to his knees because of his sins of adultery and murder, David first confessed his sin to God. Then Nathan announced absolution to David. "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die." Those were the loving and sweet Gospel words of Jesus. To every confessing sinner Jesus says, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven" (Matthew 9:2).

We have learned from the Bible that the next step in the forgiveness process is to receive absolution. Absolution is to have God, or a servant of God, or the offended person, inform you specifically that your sin has been forgiven and washed away. This announcement to a truly repentant sinner is valid. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, and to us, in Matthew 18:18, "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." So, when forgiveness or absolution is announced following confession, that is as valid and certain as if Christ Himself had announced it. What a comfort that is to the repentant sinner!

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