Confess Past Sins?
What does the Bible say we should do about past sins? And how should we distinguish between private sins from public sins? And how should we confess these sins? In James 5:16 it says "confess your faults one to another..." What are the faults according to this passage?
32, M, NY
Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion" (NASB). James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed" (NASB). Sins in this passage is translated as "faults" in the KJV.
The Bible makes it clear that we are unable to grow spiritually if we do not confess our sins. Confession is a part of our journey toward Christ. If there are past sins, ask the Lord for forgiveness, and do your best to make the wrongs right. If your actions or words hurt someone, go back and apologize, or fix it. How much effort you put into your confession will determine the outcome. You will be amazed by the healing powers of confession to you and others!
All of our sins are known to God. But depending on who else you hurt, they can be private or public. If your actions or words have affected another person, go confess directly to that person. If your sins were public, then confess in public. Matthew 18:15-17 instructs us to keep our matters between each other unless a person does not agree. Then bring in one or two as witnesses, and if the small group cannot agree upon a resolution, then ask for a larger group, the church to hear your matter.
Confession to God is a daily matter for salvation. We must confess our wrongs to God and to each other with pure and contrite hearts. Steps to Christ says, "The humble and broken heart, subdued by genuine repentance, will appreciate something of the love of God and the cost of Calvary; and as a son confesses to a loving father, so will the truly penitent bring all his sins before God. And it is written, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'" (p. 41)