The Bible does not say to partake in confession with a Priest. It is something that the Roman Catholic Church itself decreed at the Fourth Council of Lateran in 1215.
The Roman Catholic Church’s basis for Priestly forgiveness comes from John 20 verse 23 where Jesus says to his disciples: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” However, this should be read in the knowledge that it is through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection that we receive forgiveness of sins. Jesus here is asking his disciples to say when sins are forgiven, or otherwise, but it is not they who give or deny the forgiveness, they merely inform.
For the death he died, he died to sin, once for all…
Romans 6 verse 10
Jesus has died for our past sins and our future sins. He is not repeatedly dying every time we confess. He sacrificed himself once, to cover all sins. We do not need to continually confess our sins to receive that forgiveness. Our salvation is not dependent on our continued repentance.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8 verse 1
Once we have committed our lives to Jesus, we do not need to keep confessing our sins to cleanse ourselves, because there is no condemnation for those who are believers.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3 verse 17
Sure, talk to God about your sin in the same way that you would apologise to a friend or family member who you have wronged or gone against their wishes. But do so in the knowledge that Jesus has already paid the price for that wrong and those who believe in him live under that grace. And because of that grace, there is no condemnation for those who believe in him.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5 verse 14 – 16
The context here is that the prayer of someone who is right before God is powerful.
James specifically uses the term ‘elders of the church’ meaning those who are spiritually mature, and have probably been appointed to direct and guide the church.
These verses highlight that believers in Christ should pray for the sick in full faith that God can heal people physically. However, the priority is that all are healed by repenting of their sins before God, as that healing results in eternal salvation. Physical healing is temporary, whereas being right before God is eternal.
A further reminder in verse 16 is that confession to one another is as much about sharing life together, including your worst bits, and publicly acknowledging our sin before God. -Which is not to be confused with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching of confessing sin privately before a Priest to seek absolution, which as we have seen has no biblical foundation.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 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 verse 8 – 9
Confession is an ongoing conversation with God as we will never be 100% cleansed until Jesus’ return, for who can claim to be perfect? However, what is also clear is that Jesus’ death on the cross deals with our sin past, present and future. That forgiveness is total and allows us to have an ongoing relationship with God.
And what are we saved for, if not for relationship with God. If sin is damaging that relationship, then it makes sense to confess it, much like you would if you did something to upset a friend or partner.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9 verse 15
Christ has dealt with our sin by sacrificing himself and forming a new covenant.
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9 verse 24 – 26
Christ does not offer himself repeatedly to God like a high priest did each year under the old covenant, otherwise he would be suffering repeatedly.
This is why we don’t have to fret about repenting over every little thing we get wrong and worry about the things we have forgotten. Yes, repent and get your heart right before God, but Jesus has died for our sins and we are now living under that grace. He is not repeatedly suffering for us every time we repent. Christ has died once, for all.
