9. Confession of Sin
9
Confession of Sin1
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
For confession, there are (1) commandment, (2) practice, and (3) promise.
1. “Speak unto the children of Israel, when a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; then they shall confess their sin which they have done” (Num. 5:6–7). This is not a duty of the unconverted only, but an obligation for all the children of Israel, men and women. “Confess your faults one to another” (James 5:16). Now, our confession is not made to men only, as if the sins that the justified person commits were only before men and not in the court of heaven before God, as libertines teach; therefore, it is added, “Confess…and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Therefore, justified persons are to pray for pardon of confessed sins. I take it to be a precept that as many as say “Our Father” to God in prayer should also say, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us.” And so we justified people who are sons of God should ask for pardon of sins when we pray for daily bread and the coming of Christ’s kingdom: “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity” (Hos. 14:2). This must be a confession—that a people turned to the Lord are in their iniquities.
2. This is set down as a commendable practice: Ezra confessed and wept (Ezra 10:1). “And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers” (Neh. 9:2). “I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession” (Dan. 9:4). And David says, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam. 12:13). The church confesses, “Thou art wroth; for we have sinned…. But we are all as an unclean thing” (Isa. 64:5–6). “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us” (Isa. 59:12). “I have sinned…, O thou preserver of man” (Job 7:20). “Mine iniquities…are more [in number] than the hairs of mine head” (Ps. 40:12). “Our iniquities testify against us…, our backslidings are many” (Jer. 14:7).
It is a vain shift2 to say, “The church prays and confesses for the wicked party, not for the justified ones.” For as many as were afflicted confessed their sins, for which the hand of God was upon them. Now God’s hand was upon all: Daniel and Jeremiah were carried away captive—indeed, the whole seed of Jacob (Isa. 42:24–25; 64:5–7). And Jeremiah, in the name of the whole captive church, says, “The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment” (Lam. 1:18).
There is a promise made to these that confess: “Whoso confesseth and forsaketh [his sins] shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). “When I kept silence [and did not confess] my bones waxed old…. I said, I will confess my transgression unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Ps. 32:3, 5). And this is not an Old Testament spirit only; for this is the same promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9). “If they shall confess their iniquity,…then will I remember my covenant with Jacob” (Lev. 26:40, 42). Not to confess is shown to be guiltiness: “Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned” (Jer. 2:35). It is a token of impenitency: “No man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done?” (Jer. 8:6).
1. Trial and Triumph, sermon 17, 188–89.
2. shift: evasion