Confession is an active and healthy part of a Christ follower’s life. But at times it can be a daunting, paralyzing and unwelcome part of our journey. James tells us that we are to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another and we will be healed (James 5:16). So I guess we really need to realize the fact that sin is deadly and makes us sick, confession is the purging of sin to God and to our fellow believers that brings light the struggle that was previously in the dark.

Here is the issue I often face though. For me confession equals punishment. I know all the stuff the Bible says but when faced with confessing sin I tend to seize up and internalize it because I feel as if there is going to be unbearable punishment coming. This is not the Gospel.

The Gospel is the complete antidote to my erroneous way of thinking.  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 ESV) This is the beautiful truth of the Gospel. If and when we confess we are forgiven, immediately, no second thought from Jesus on the matter. His work on the cross took care of that once and for all. Will there be consequences to our sin? Yes. Will those sins be counted against us? No. Jesus’ work on the cross took away the penalty of death that is associated with sin.

Confession to God is healthy and needed to grow as a follower of Christ but so is confession to one another. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16 ESV) Confessing our sins to one another is spiritual healing for our sin sick souls. I know that most of us have been burnt by someone we have confessed to and I am sure it will happen many times again before Jesus comes back, but if you are living in community of believers that is focused on seeing the truth of the Gospel lived out in their lives, this is a must. We have to remember that James wrote about this in the context of the local church, where members commit to seek the best for one another.

When we confine confession to our understandings and presuppositions then we limit the power it was designed to have in our lives as believers. This is something I am learning to trust God in and practice more with my family, pastors and church community.