Online Bible Study - Foundations of Faith

The Confession of Sins

This power has not been given to any one man or any one class of people, and certainly not just to the clergy, but God has given the responsibility and power to forgive sins to the Church. The Church, of course, is made up of the all Christian individuals that have gathered together in congregations to carry out God's will and commands. We learn about this responsibility and power in Matthew 18:17-18 & 20, "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 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. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

There is also an important lesson in the Bible for us Christians to remember each day, as we come into the Lord's presence in prayer and worship. We must have true sorrow (contrition) over the fact that we daily sin much, even though we are well aware of God's mercy and forgiveness. King David, who was a repentant sinner says to us in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." God is searching our heart to see true sorrow over sin, and to see the desire to live a holy and God-pleasing life.

Finally, the last step in this whole process of confession and absolution is that God wants repentant sinners to have changed hearts and changed lives as a result. When the Psalmist Asaph prays in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me," a change both of heart and of life are implied. A person who comes to the righteous and just God asking for forgiveness, must be sincere. Since God is all-knowing, He knows our heart. If God sees that we are confessing a sin on the one hand, and on the other hand, are continuing to live in that sin, we will surely not be forgiven, and will not receive His blessing.

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