Chapter 17
Confession
Is there a promise for those who confess their sins?
"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.
To whom besides the Lord should one confess his sins?
"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." James 5:16.
NOTE: All sins should be confessed to God, because the very smallest is a grievance to Him; but only those sins should be confessed to a fellow-man that have directly injured him. A sin that is against God only, should be confessed only to Him, and man has no claim to a confession in such cases.
If one tries to cover up a sin, and will not properly confess it, what effect will such a course have on the delinquent?
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13.
NOTE: He may outwardly appear to prosper, but spiritually he will not.
Is it possible to hide a sin from God?
"But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out." Numbers 32:23.
"Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." Psalms 90:8.
How did David feel before he confessed his sins?
"When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer." Psalms 32:3, 4.
What came to him after confession?
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin." Psalms 32:5.
Who is the advocate of the sinner?
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1.
NOTE.--It follows that if one is an advocate for another, the advocate must know all the case of the one for whom he is to plead. If any omission is made in stating the case in all its details, how can the advocate plead for such?
How fully did Israel confess to Samuel when they wished him to intercede before God in their behalf?
"And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king." 1 Samuel 12:19.
NOTE: Probably Samuel knew before that they had committed that particular wrong; but he wanted them to feel it before he could really intercede in their behalf. Even so the Lord wishes all now to specify their wrongs, that He may know they have a genuine sorrow for each one committed.
What are we to expect when we confess our sins?
"To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." Psalms 51:1.
Will there be a time when every one will confess to God?
"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Romans 14:11, 12.
NOTE: The confessions here spoken of are those which will be made in the judgment. If any one has refused to acknowledge his sins before, affirming that he could not see them, he will then see them just as the record has them marked. He will confess his sins when it is too late to obtain forgiveness for them. It is far better to acknowledge our faults now, and with the help of God put them away, while there is hope of salvation.
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