Confessing sins to each other?

It doesn't support confession as a sacrament, with the ritualized penances that the Catholic church uses, but it does embody great spiritual wisdom -- that brothers and sisters in Christ can help us make sure our consciences are fully expressed. If I simply pray for forgiveness, without a human to hear me and reflect with me, I will likely sugarcoat what I say to God, just as I sugarcoat it for myself. There is nothing quite like a spiritual friend who will love us despite ourselves and who will help us tell the truth about ourselves.

After all, the Christian faith is all about incarnation, isn't it?

 

The confession does not invlove confessing sins. The Bible is very clear that there is one Mediator between God and man. This passage is talking about confessing our "faults" or weaknesses to one another. It is the principle of accountability. If I have a problem with anger, lust, bitterness, slothfulness, or any other "fault," it would greatly benefit me to "confess" this fault to a stronger fellow Christian who can hold me accountable and help me do right.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

 

My thoughts EXACTLY.

 

What Pastor Bob said :thumbs:

 

Confession of our sins against one another - is done person-to-person.
Confession of our weaknesses and asking for prayer is another form of benefit/ministry given to through the body of Christ the Church.

But the only way we get forgiveness of sins is to go to God through Christ and confess our sins.

In Christ,

Bob