Confession

27 “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, 28 or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.

29 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.

31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. Leviticus 4:27-37 ESV

True Repentance

According to Maimonides, in order to achieve true repentance the sinner must abandon his sin, remove it from his thoughts, and resolve in his heart never to repeat it, as it is said, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the man of iniquity his thoughts" (Isaiah 55:7).

Maimonides: A Preeminent medieval Jewish Philosopher and astronomer became one

of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars and physicians in the Middle Ages

In Judaism, atonement is achieved through some combination of repentance and sacrifice:

•Temple service (e.g. bringing a sacrifice)•restitution•the occurrence of Yom Kippur •the carrying out of a sentence of lashes or execution imposed by an ordained court (not now in existence)

Repentance is needed in all cases of willful sin, and restitution is always required in the case of sin against a fellow person, unless the wronged party waives it.

Leviticus 16:29 mandates establishment of this holy day on the 10th day of the 7th month as the day of atonement for sins.

It calls it the Sabbath of Sabbaths and a day upon which one must afflict one's soul.

Yom means "day" in Hebrew and Kippur comes from a root that means "to atone". Yom Kippur is usually expressed in English as "day of atonement".

Yom Kippur is "the tenth day of [the] seventh month“ and is regarded as the "Sabbath of Sabbaths

A Jew tries to amend his or her behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings. The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private petitions and confessions of guilt. At the end of Yom Kippur, one hopes that they have been forgiven by God.In order to apologize to God, one must:

1. Pray2. Repent3. Give to charity

Martin Luther came to reject several teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar, with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517.

Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was raised again for our justification. He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), God has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works and merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood (Romans 3:23-25).

1. Confession is needed in the case of wrong done to a neighbor.

2. When under a troubled conscience we ask a minster or friend “Pray for one another" "Confession may be made to anyone who can pray"

3. Open confession of sin before the Church and the world, in token of penitence.

Confession is...

1. Ceasing to deceive ourselves –

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. I John 1:8 NLT

2. Ceasing to continue the defense mechanisms of denial, avoidance, distortion, cover-up.

3. Calling sin "sin." Calling a spade a spade!         4. To recognize, admit, acknowledge, concede and declare our guilt of sin.                 

© 1999 James A. Fowler

  5. Part of repentance. A change of mental attitude leading to changed behavioral action.

 6. Inclusive of asking forgiveness for wronging another person.

© 1999 James A. Fowler

7. Inclusive of restitution

They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged. Numbers 5:7; NLT

Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated. Luke. 19: 8 CEV

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in Akron, Ohio on August 11, 1938 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, known to AA members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob".

Step 4

Step 4

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves

Step 5

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs

This is perhaps difficult, especially discussing our defects with another person. We think we have done well enough in admitting these things to ourselves. There is doubt about that. In actual practice, we usually find a solitary self-appraisal insufficient.

Many of us thought it necessary to go much further. We will be more reconciled to discussing ourselves with another person when we see good reasons why we should do so. The best reason first: If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking. A.A. Big Book p.72-73

Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain facts about their lives. Trying to avoid this humbling experience, they have turned to easier methods. Almost invariably they got drunk. Having persevered with the rest of the program, they wondered why they fell.

We think the reason is that they never completed their housecleaning. They took inventory all right, but hung on to some of the worst items in stock. They only thought they had lost their egoism and fear; they only thought they had humbled themselves.

But they had not learned enough of humility, fearlessness and honesty, in the sense we find it necessary, until they told someone else all their life story. -A.A. Big Book p.72-73

What if a person doesn't feel forgiven after he confesses his sin?         1. We do not live by feelings, but by faith.

         2. God is faithful - I John 1:9         

But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. I John 1:9 CEV

 3. When you still feel guilty of sin  a. Examine the motives of your confession.

  b. Remember that Satan is the "accuser of the brethren"

Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, “Our God has shown his saving power, and his kingdom has come! God’s own Chosen One has shown his authority. Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out! “ Rev. 12:10 CEV

 c. Have you forgiven others or asked for their forgiveness?

 d. Have you made necessary restitution?

         

4. Have you forgiven yourself? "Who will bring a charge against God's elect?"

If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Rom. 8:33 CEV

1 John 1:9 ESV 

If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 NLV

16 Tell your sins to each other. And pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer from the heart of a man right with God has much power.

Forgiveness and cleansing from sin is dependent upon confession (not being good). Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our forgiveness.

Confession is important for the Christian, since it helps to heal us from the effects of sin and restores our relationship with God

1 John 1:9 ESV 

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 ESV

If we confess our…

he is faithful and just to…

and to cleanse us from…

Table Sharing

1.  Do you have friends with whom you

can be real about your sins?

Are you part of a group where it feels safe to confess your sins?

2.  How has confessing your sins to other people helped you?