If all of our sins have been forgiven, why is confession of sin necessary?

Question

If all of our sins have been forgiven, why is confession of sin necessary?

Answer 1

I agree with the other respondents...you commit the sin...but you still have to fess up to it.  It is better to be a true person!

Answer 2

It is the only way to acknowledge that YOU needed forgiveness.  

Suppose a friend did something horrible to you and then started avoiding you...if you forgave that person, would it have ANY impact on your relationship if that person didn't believe he or she actually did something that required forgiveness?

Why is confession necessary?...because it is the only way to truly accept an offer of forgiveness...just because the wronged party forgives before being asked, doesn't mean that the other party doesn't still need to apologize!  Without a confession of guilt, the person that did something wrong can't truly benefit from forgiveness.  

Answer 3

Tehy arent forgiven till you repent...Its not automatic..

Answer 4

Pro 28:13 People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy

Jam 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.  

1Jo 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.  

Answer 5

Only original sin has been removed by Baptism. Personal sins still need to be forgiven in the confessional.  

Answer 6

Confession is meant to help the person confessing.  If you confess your wrongdoings and explore why you do wrong things, then you are engaging in healthy self-examination and working to improve your behavior.  

Confession to a priest is not strictly necessary; you can always pray to God about your transgressions on your own.  But sometimes, it helps to talk over these things with another human being.

Answer 7

backsliders - are people who revert back to their old ways.. we still need to aknowlegde out loud our sins... and learn how to keep from doing it over and over again... so we dont backslide.  

Answer 8

so we realize our sins. even though we are forgiven it is NEVER alright to sin. God will always forgive us but we need to be aware of our sin and repent and ask for forgiveness befor he will forgive.

Answer 9

Unconfessed sin will hinder your relationship with God. We are still held accountable for our sin, even if we are saved. If you don't confess, it's like you are trying to hide it from God. And that will quench the Holy Spirit.

Answer 10

Admitting you have sinned and on your own merit, are not worthy or able to forgive such sins.

Giving thanks and praise to God for affording us forgivenes.  How can a person name a particular sin and ask forgiveness for it if the sin/s aren't committed till the following day?

Forgiveness of sin isn't a license to sin. Sin needs to be confessed, sorrow for sin shown wholehearted  attempt made to abandon such activity. God is no fool. If He forgives our sins we need to give thanks for it,  honor Him, and try to sin no more.  

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Answer 11

To me it's like having unlimited money in the bank. It is there for me but to access it I must make a withdrawal. I do have forgiveness for my sin but I need to confess it to God, not another person, so that I can be clean before God again. My sin is wrong and I must agree with God who says that it is wrong. If I have unconfessed sin in my life, it breaks my fellowship with God. I'm not disinherited but I am miserable until I get it taken care of. God wants to bless me but He won't as long as I am being disobedient. It is like when our children are disobedient. We still love them and they are still our children but we won't be rewarding them with good things as long as they are being disobedient or disrespectful to us, their parents.

Answer 12

I'm neither Catholic nor Protestant buts heres what I know 2 b true:

In the Bible it warns us that we rnt 2 trust humans, not even ourselves (Jer 10:2-5,23; Is 2:22; Job 12:11; Prov 14:12; Acts 17:11). So carefully think over what I say. Dont just believe or disregard what I write. It might save u from making the same mistakes many have made, getting caught up in religious beliefs that have nothing 2 do with finding & knowing God (including confession).

Anything practiced as a ritual has no meaning under the NT Covenant. The Hebrew rituals were by the instruction of God the best 1 could do under God's Law (None in NT). Other religions (including many Christian) either copied or invented rituals (the best humans could do within the limits of being human). Jesus' perfect sacrifice canceled the need 4 any rituals (doing them calls God a liar as they make it appear Jesus failed His mission). The closest thing to a ritual is Communion but that doesnt mean it should be treated as a ritual as it is 2 be treated most seriously (Its not 2 be presented as Jesus' actual body & blood - Catholic [Cc] belief).

Many dont know the difference btwn a ritual done as a ritual & genuine "rememberance" - not possible without knowing/following Jesus' actual Biblical instructions - absent in Cc teachings (the Cc didnt write any part of the NT [not a Cc text or their writings - NT was written in the 1rst century by Apostles, Cc possession was not until 3rd century] which contradicts their teachings/practices & God's will, 1 in truth & Spirit not rituals - God allowed them 2 produce the Bible dispite their wrong teachings like He allowed the Romans 2 fulfill prophecy without their knowledge [happening again today). A teaching can have a truth in whats written but the action taken can be superficial - The Cc like the Pharisees know how 2 clean the outside of the cup but dont understand how the inside is 2 be cleaned with respect to Jesus' actual message. The fact that the Cc & other religions retain an altar @ the center of their religious pracrtices is 1 sure sign of their being about religious rituals not the truth.

The problem is theres many religions & different varieties. 1 day I realized they cant all be right (i.e. theres 1 Bible, why so many interpretations? - II Pet 1:**19-21). Most religions came thru people who thought up things for a God they & others liked. Some realized religion could be good 2 control the masses & 4 other agendas. However, religion cant teach u much about God (they cant teach what they dont know). Who knows more about a house He who built it or he who moves in later?

For Christians, the trouble began when the Apostles/disciples were killed off or died during the 1rst century (Christianity was illegal for most of that time). Over the next century others, whom either didnt know Jesus or were less informed than Jesus' 1rst generation of believers &/or (un)intentionally added in their own ideas/agendas replaced the original believers. By the time the Catholic religion became a "state - Jn 18:36" recognized, organized religion around the time of Constantine (about AD 325), most of what Jesus taught & the original Apostles/disciples practiced were no longer present.

The Cc mixed in things of Pagan & religions practices 2 please & draw in people, thus, creating a new religion they decided 2 label "Christian/Catholic". The Cc's, like other religions' agendas (some mayve been well-intentioned), was mostly 2 control masses & 2 influence politics (II Tim 2:*4; I Jn 2:*15-17; Col 2:*8; Jer 10:*2-5). The Cc claims they didnt distribute Bibles 4 over a century b/c people couldnt read so why didnt they just teach people 2 read?

God & Jesus have never been about pleasing man. In fact, the Cc RCc & Oc had made religions just like the Pharisees, which Jesus emphatically stated was an abomination b/c they were about pleasing man not God (Mt 23:15; LK 16:15). Even when others like the Protestants split off from the Cc they retained the same wrong basic format & structure of the Cc.

Even though these churches got rid of some of the Cc nonsense they still didnt know much about Jesus (most ignored or skipped over Biblical instructions due 2 various agendas) nor did they go 2 the Bible 2 find out all of Jesus' instructions [a huge mistake, as they're fulfilling prophecies against the core of their practices (Amos 8:*11; Jr 12:*10: Is 5:*9 (large houses r churches - Mt 24:*1-2); Hos 4:*6: Mk 7:1-23 (John 3:*3,5 & Ez 36:24-27,*26); Lk 16:**15 (see Rv 21:27; Jr 10:**2-5; Is 1:*11-15)].

Some wrong Cc teachings r:

1. The CC claims to be the 1rst church & that since they r the longest existing church, they r the only "official" church. Jesus' Apostles never named their church "catholic (not in the Bible)" nor did they ever practice Cc religious rituals. There was nearly a 250 year gap btwn Jesus' original Apostle's church & the start of the "official" Cc - there4, the Cc was never a part of or the true 1rst Christian Church (neither a label or the time it existed proves anything - its what they practice that makes all the difference btwn truth & error).

2. Peter was never a pope nor was he or his fellow Apostles ever a member of the Cc - it isnt in the Bible - the use of the word pope is a Cc invention - the Bible instructs us not 2 go beyond whats written (I Cor 4:6; Rev 22:18-19). Peter was never a bishop of the Cc (he was already dead about 250 years before the Cc became a church. Peter would never call himself a pope b/c calling 1self Father is an abomination.

Here's a partial list of wrong Cc practices, traditions & rituals that have nothing 2 do with following Jesus:

Mass (not in the Bible) is full of non-biblical rituals, Statues (God isnt in2 dead things - non-living things can't help or save anyone - praying 2 them is an abomination), the Rosery, mother Mary as interceder (Jesus is the only way to God - not His Apostles/disciples - Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:12; IS 1), candles, incense, the cross (its more a symbol of the curse rather than Jesus & for the same reasoning against statues), making the sign of the cross, stations of the cross, the pope's & other leader's garb they wear, confirmation, the Catholic creed & other Catholic organization documents, raising people to the status of "saint" (only God & Jesus have authority to do this), catechism, devotionals, sacraments, holy eucharist, penance, traditional & repetative type prayers & many other things they do rnt in or coming from the Bible.

Its b/c religion is about man & what he likes, not what Jesus mandated for 1 2 do 2 follow Him. The result is that few will end up saved thru most of them (no1 can save themselves by their own inititve nor will good deeds save them - theres no good in any man - Rom 1:23). 1 must be very careful not 2 get sucked in or going 2 various denominations (especially if u dont have a good handle on whats actually written in the Bible) as u can only add 2 any confusion ur already experiencing.

Just b/c religions made many mistakes (many fatal) doesnt mean God doesnt know what He's doing. The main point thats not clear 2 many:  Jesus is the only 1 in history that stated that no1 can find our real God except thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:11). This means "the" truth was complete & there4 finished thru what Jesus taught & did. So, any so-called new teaching & any other religious beliefs r null & void & cant lead u 2 God. The truth is either the whole truth or it isnt the truth. The truth is the absence of any lie. Either Jesus told the whole truth or He's a false prophet, among many, whom should be disregarded. This would also mean that God must not exist either (He either knows what He's doing or He cant be God).

But, heres evidence God knows what He is doing. Jesus couldntve done nor said what He did unless He had full understanding of the entire Old Testament (the New Testament didnt exist @ the time of Jesus - the only way Jesus couldve known the whole OT is if God was with Him). & the Apostles couldnt remember & write down the NT unless Jesus allowed them to remember & know what He was here 4 (Lk 24:25-27,45). None of this was possible unless an incredibly Intelligent Being caused it.

But God outsmarted man, b/c the Bible's the only 1 known 2 man that cant be properly understood without going thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; II Cor 3:14 - If the Jewish people cant pierce the veil over the OT without going thu Jesus then rest-assurd neither can all gentiles). This is why theres many interpretations & people thinking its all just fairytales.

A church thats very serious about finding the Biblical truth, understands what being Born Anew is about, might be able 2 help u but no1 can save u except Jesus (Jn 3:1-14 - note: Nicodemus was very religious but Jesus flatout told him he had missed the 1rst most important step, that he must be Born Anew or no matter how religious or good he thought he is he couldn't go 2 Heaven (Jn 3:3,5; Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). No1 can live without breaking God's Law.

Whoever seeks Jesus Christ with all his heart & soul will find Him (u shall know the truth & it will set u free). But u can lead a horse 2 water but u cant make them drink. Why should God want u 2 live with Him forever if u dont want 2 know Him (reason 4 free will - Jn 1:12-13)? The truth of God remains forever while things of a man dies with him, including his religions & gods made in his image. Theres everlasting hope only in Jesus Christ.

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Answer 13

God does not forgive sins once we commit them. He gives us forgiveness when we ask for it. We are supposed to confess our sins to God directly through Jesus (not a priest or Mary). For example, if I steal something from a person, God will forgive me for it, but He does not forgive me for stealing the item right them. I have to confess and repent of the theft to gain forgiveness. This is to show that I am truly sorry for sinning.

Answer 14

This is mainly for your benefit, so that you will bring to your own mind what you have done. Reciting your own transgressions to someone can have a very powerful effect on your thoughts about doing them again.  

Answer 15

You do not need to confess your sins to man. You need to ask for forgiveness from The Lord. If you repent He will forgive you.  

Answer 16

Because the pope says so.

Answer 17

All of our sins have NOT been forgiven.

The Penalty has been taken care of, but we must still confess them to God.

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

God takes it seriously that we confess, acknowledging our wrong-doing.

Answer 18

There is nothing that anyone can do that requires God's forgiveness..God gave all free will and there is absolutely nothing that God requires from anyone..He always appreciates an I love you or a thank you but even that is not required..Man Has given God a bad rap primarily because books like the bible teach falsely that God judges, condemns and punishes.. God is pure love, truth and Joy and you can read this truth in the Conversations with God books by Neale Donald Walsch...God bless

Answer 19

Because Jesus said so

Matthew 16:

18

    And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, 13 and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

19

    I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. 14 Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

So right there Jesus is saying that whatever sins that are confessed, if they are loosed on earth, they are loosed in heaven,  meaning that they are forgiven.  But if they are bound, then they are not forgiven.

Answer 20

John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.

James 5:16 - James clearly teaches us that we must “confess our sins to one another,” not just privately to God. James 5:16 must be read in the context of James 5:14-15, which is referring to the healing power (both physical and spiritual) of the priests of the Church. Hence, when James says “therefore” in verse 16, he must be referring to the men he was writing about in verses 14 and 15 – these men are the ordained priests of the Church, to whom we must confess our sins.

CONFESSION IS NOT A CATHOLIC INVENTION, HERE IS PROOF:

Num. 5:7 - this shows the historical practice of publicly confessing sins, and making public restitution.

2 Sam. 12:14 - even though the sin is forgiven, there is punishment due for the forgiven sin. David is forgiven but his child was still taken (the consequence of his sin).

Neh. 9:2-3 - the Israelites stood before the assembly and confessed sins publicly and interceded for each other.

more scripture verses here:

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/confess...

Do not come to prayer with a guilty conscience."

Epistle of Barnabas, 19:12 (A.D. 74).

“In church confess your sins, and do not come to your prayer with a guilt conscience. Such is the Way of Life...On the Lord's own day, assemble in common to break bread and offer thanks; but first confess your sins, so that your sacrifice may be pure."

Didache, 4:14,14:1 (c. A.D. 90).

"Moreover, it is in accordance with reason that we should return to soberness[of conduct], and, while yet we have opportunity, exercise repentance towards God. It is well to reverence both God and the bishop."

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyraeans, 9 (c. A.D. 110).

Answer 21

Jesus paid for Your Bail or Bond,but Your part is to admit it and accept the Pardon;

God hates Pride----Man can't save Himself;

Pride--That got Lucifer tossed out of Heaven,He now is Satan;His followers are full of Pride;