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Sincere Confession Essential, May 2
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
.
The apostle says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one
for another, that ye may be healed.”
James 5:16
. Confess your sins to
God, who only can forgive them, and your faults to one another. If you
have given offense to your friend or neighbor, you are to acknowledge
your wrong, and it is his duty freely to forgive you. Then you are to
seek the forgiveness of God, because the brother you have wounded is
the property of God, and in injuring him you have sinned against his
Creator....
True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges
particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before
God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals
who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public
character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession
should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of
which you are guilty.
Many, many confessions should never be spoken in the hearing of
mortals; for the result is that which the limited judgment of finite beings
does not anticipate.... God will be better glorified if we confess the
secret, inbred corruption of the heart to Jesus alone than if we open its
recesses to finite, erring man, who cannot judge righteously unless his
heart is constantly imbued with the Spirit of God.... Do not pour into
human ears the story which God alone should hear.
The confession that is the outpouring of the inmost soul finds its
way to the God of infinite pity.
Your sins may be as mountains before you; but if you humble your
heart, and confess your sins, trusting in the merits of a crucified and
risen Saviour, He will forgive, and will cleanse you from all unrigh-
teousness.... Desire the fullness of the grace of Christ. Let your heart be
filled with an intense longing for His righteousness.
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