I confess, I don’t confess to other people very often. Okay, there are some exceptions, but overall I don’t confess to others.

‍

Primarily, it’s because it’s hard. It’s uncomfortable. It’s humbling.

‍

Some of it may also stem from Protestantism. Members of the Catholic Church are required to participate in the sacrament of confession – they confess their sins to a priest who absolves them of their sin and grants them forgiveness. Protestants don’t require confession to a person; forgiveness can come God alone. But the churches I grew up in discouraged any practice that might seem like those of the Catholic Church. That would include requiring any form of confession to another human being. I don’t know about you, but I grew up without any encouragement or pressure to confess any sins to another person.

‍

But there are two different types of confession. There’s confession to God that leads to forgiveness of sins. That’s the type of confession that Peter discusses when he writes in I Peter 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It’s also the type of confession most of the devos have discussed this week – confession to God leads to forgiveness, healing, cleansing, and purification.

‍

But there’s another type of confession, one to another person, which leads to restoration, accountability, and healing. That’s the purpose of the confession that James discusses in James 5:16.

‍

This past week, we’ve been looking at confession – it’s impact on us, it’s impact on worship, and David’s example of confession. In today’s verse, James tells us to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we’ll be healed. It’s a command with a promise – confess your sin to another, then pray and be healed.

‍

Note that the verse starts with a “therefore,” and whenever we see that, we should ask, what is the “therefore” there for? The preceding verses talk about the power of prayer – its power to heal, its power to obtain forgiveness, and its power to solve problems. James tells us that the prayer can become even more powerful when we confess our sins to others who, in turn, pray for spiritual healing.

‍

What happens when we confess our sins to someone else? It leads to humility, trust, accountability, community, and ultimately to restoration. When they pray for us, that confession will also lead to spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.

So, what’s the next step? You guessed it – confession! But how? Maybe you have someone or a group of people you confess sins to. Good for you! For the rest of us, it starts with confession with God. That will lead to forgiveness.

‍

After obtaining God’s forgiveness, have you thought about confessing your sin, especially repetitive sins, to someone else?  If you don't have anyone to discuss your sin with, consider going to the ACF Prayer Room in the back corner of the sanctuary and sharing at church tomorrow. Or, are you a member of an ACF group? If not, check out ACF Groups at this link!  They are designed for accountability and discipleship, and dare I say it, confession!

‍

Dear God, I confess that I’m a sinner. I sin by doing ______ (fill in the blank). Please forgive me. Like David in Psalm 51, create in me a clean heart, renew a steadfast spirit within me, and help me to turn from my sinful ways. Give me strength and help me to trust someone else enough to confess that sin to them. I trust You and obey You.  Amen.