To Whom Do We Confess?

How Do We Confess - To Whom Do We Confess - What Do We Confess

Who ought to receive our confession?  Let’s look to the Bible for an answer.

The religious world is populated with many false ideas about the subject of confession. When it comes to the question of who ought to receive our confession, there are some who say that only a priest can hear such a thing, while others argue that confession must be made only to the Lord. What is the truth of the matter? As usual, the Bible has the answer.

We make a confession in the presence of other people, as a public record.

When it comes to the confession of our faith in Christ, prior to becoming members of His church, it is obvious that we must make such a confession in the presence of other people (Matthew 10:32,33). The confession of our faith in the Lord Jesus is supposed to be a matter of public record. We must never hide our faith from our fellow men (Matthew 5:13-16).

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another.

Once we have obeyed the gospel plan of salvation, and become Christians, it may be necessary for us to confess when we have sinned. James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” It must be pointed out that this verse says nothing about making a confession to a priest, or about a priest granting absolution for sins. In the New Testament, every Christian is said to be a priest (1 Peter 2:9), and God is the only one who can forgive us for our sins (Matthew 9:1-8). That is why 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We must confess our sins to God and appeal to Him for forgiveness.

As Christians, we must confess our sins to God and appeal to Him for forgiveness. There is no human priesthood that can do what God does for us.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33