WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFESSING SIN
1.
Most
would agree that people In this country have varying levels of religious
knowledge.
2.
Certain religious facts, however, are known to almost all who live in
the United States.
3.
If people see a sign which says “church,” they almost always conclude it
is a place of worship.
4.
Another well known fact is that some religions have priests who accept
confessions.
5.
So
widespread is this practice it has even been featured on t.v. programs.
6.
If
you ever watched the sitcom MASH, you have seen someone act as a
Catholic priest.
7.
I
grew up watching that program and remember an actor “take confessions.”
IF
YOU WERE TO ASK SOMEONE WHO “TAKES CONFESSIONS” WHY THEY PERFORM
THIS ACT, YOU WOULD PROBABLY RECEIVE AN ANSWER SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
A.
Sin
is an offense against God.
B.
Because sin is an offense against God, only God can forgive it.
C.
These two statements are certainly in harmony with the scriptures.
D.
What
would be said next, however, is not consistent with the Bible.
E.
In
justifying confession to priests a reference is frequently made to Jn.
20:23.
F.
This
verse was read just moments ago.
2.
Priests have used this verse to justify their listening to and their
accepting confessions.
3.
They say they are simply doing what Jesus empowered the apostles and
their successors to do.
4.
It
is further argued that pardon (forgiveness) must include a confession.
5.
How
can forgiveness occur if knowledge of the sin is not expressed?
6.
The
big “proof text” for confessing to someone like a priest is Jn. 20:23.
7.
Because this is such a widespread error, let’s examine the 20th
chapter of John.
8.
In
the first verse of Jn. 20 we read about Mary; she came “early on the 1st
day of the week.”
9.
She
was there in the early hours, but Jesus had already been raised form the
dead.
A.
The
place for us to start reading is verse 19 – READ.
B.
Who
were these “disciples” Jesus came to see?
John had in mind the apostles.
C.
This
is indicated by verse 24.
D.
Thomas was “one of the twelve”, but he was not with “them” (the 12/the
apostles).
10.
When
Jesus came to see the apostles He did more than just visit with them.
A.
Notice verse 20 – READ.
B.
Jesus then encouraged them in another way – verse 21 – READ.
C.
A
commission was given then the Lord did what is recorded in verse 22 –
READ.
D.
After imparting the Holy Spirit Jesus said the words already read from
verse 23.
11.
If
verse 23 is lifted out of its context, it might sound something like
modern day priests.
12.
If
we read it as part of the narrative, we get a much different picture and
meaning.
A.
Jesus said in 21b that He would be “sending” these men.
B.
This
is exactly what happened in the lives of the apostles; they were sent.
C.
They
were dispatched as preachers of the gospel—the New Testament.
D.
Because the New Testament was not written and the message was new, they
needed help.
E.
This
help came through (by) the Holy Spirit.
13.
Someone might ask how all this relates to the forgiveness and retaining
of sins in verse 23.
14.
As
the apostles preached people would do one of two things.
15.
Those who heard and obeyed the word would have their sins remitted
(forgiven).
16.
Those who didn’t hear or didn’t obey the message would have their sins
retained.
17.
The
Holy Spirit would “guide the apostles into the truth” about sin and
salvation.
18.
What
happened here is really another example of what is found in Mt. 16:19.
19.
Jesus said the apostles would “bind and loose” what had already been
bound and loosed.
20.
When
we read the rest of the New Testament—especially Acts, what do we find?
21.
We
find the preaching that is closely associated with the forgiveness of
sin.
22.
Moreover, when we read the scriptures we find something else.
23.
Those who talked about having their sins forgiven are almost always
non-Christians.
24.
An
exception to this can be found in Acts 8 (Simon was already a
Christian).
25.
In
general terms what we find in the Bible is contrary to what is done
today.
26.
At
the present time Priests want to discuss the sins of people they view as
saved.
27.
In
the Bible discussions of sin are repeatedly associated with unsaved.
28.
Beyond this the Bible makes another point.
29.
Consider again the modern practice of people confessing to another human
being.
30.
There is a third party (a priest) who “grants forgiveness.”
31.
How
does this compare with the inspired record in Acts 8?
32.
Luke
tells us about Simon, a “church member.”
He became involved with sin.
33.
Notice this description which we will not elaborate on tonight – Acts
8:21, 23 – READ.
34.
Here
was a man who had sinned; there was no question about his violating
God’s will.
35.
Simon was a Christian who needed to help in righting his relationship
with God.
36.
Notice who talked with Simon about these things.
A.
Simon had been converted under the preaching of Philip.
B.
After he and others became Christians, two apostles came to town.
C.
Peter and John had been in Jerusalem but they soon came to the city of
Samaria.
D.
Notice from verse 20 that Peter was the one who spoke to Simon – READ.
37.
Catholicism is well known for having priests who accept confessions.
38.
Since the days of MASH this has been a widely publicized part of that
religious group.
39.
It
is also a well established fact that Peter is especially important to
this religious organization.
40.
Peter was present on the occasion described in Acts 8.
41.
Before him was a child of God who had committed a terrible sin.
42.
What
did Peter do? Did the
apostle say, “You need to confess to me?”
43.
Peter was well aware of what had happened in Jn. 20.
44.
He
surely remembered the words of the Lord.
Acts 2 proves he had the Holy Spirit.
45.
Did this apostle therefore take a confession from Simon and forgive him,
or do something else?
46.
It
is now time to introduce verse 22 – READ.
A.
Is
this not interesting?
B.
Peter didn’t say, “confess to me.”
C.
He
didn’t say, “I have the power to absolve you from your sins.”
D.
Peter said “repent” and “pray the Lord.”
47.
If
we do not find confessions to a priest in the New Testament, where did
they originate?
48.
This
practice came along about 250 years after Christ.
49.
At
this time there were people who “lapsed” in their religious faith.
50.
Heavy persecution had caused people to turn away and some finally wanted
to come back.
51.
Religious officials installed a function known as a “penitent
presbyter.”
52.
That
is, a man who served as an elder listened as a person described their
situation.
53.
As
time passed there were changes in the “confession policies” of religious
groups.
54.
By the time of 1215, a pope declared that every church member must
confess at least once a year.
55.
What
we see today—a common practice— is a radical departure from NT teaching.
56.
Lk.
18:13 pictures two men who prayed.
57.
One
man said to heaven, “God be thou merciful to me a sinner.”
58.
Jesus said this man went down to his house “justified.”
59.
This
event occurred under the Old Testament, but it is a demonstration of
proper prayer.
60.
Jesus gave a principle that still has application, and one point of that
story is undeniably clear:
61.
The
justified man prayed straight to God.
He didn’t need to confess to anyone else.
62.
Consider too 1 Tim. 2:5; Paul said there is “one” mediator
between man and God.
63.
I
once asked a man who believed in priests and confessions to explain that
verse to me.
64.
His
basic answer was that “one” really doesn’t mean one.
65.
Jesus is the “main mediator” but others also have a part to play.
66.
When
God says “one,” He means one.
67.
1
Peter 2:9 says that God’s people are a “priesthood.”
68.
Women, if they are Christians, are priests.
69.
People of all races, if they are New Testament Christians, are priests.
70.
Every member of Christ’s church is a priest, so there is no need for a
special class.
71.
James went a step further in Jas. 5:16.
A.
He
said we can confess our faults to “one another.”
B.
He
could have said, “do it to a priest,” but he used very different
wording.
C.
James knew nothing of the modern clergy-laity system.
D.
He
said Christians are to “confess one to another” and “pray for each
other.”
72.
We
need the prayers of each other.
73.
Talking to each other can certainly be helpful at times.
74.
There is no basis for pointing a person and saying, “confess to him.”
75.
This
past week I came across an interesting bit of history.
A.
There was a member of the church who was advanced in age.
B.
Because of health reasons she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law,
devout Catholics.
C.
As
the NT continued to decline, her daughter asked if the local priest
could come.
D.
The New Testament Christian said it would be necessary, but the daughter
called him anyway.
76.
Not
long thereafter a priest came to the house and entered into the dying
woman’s room.
77.
The
member of the church asked who he was and what he was there for.
78.
He
said he had come to offer her last rites; absolve her of her sins.
79.
With
her last bit of strength the woman said, “Please show me your hands.”
80.
No
one had ever said that to him before, but he put out his hands for her
to see.
81.
She
raised herself up and said, “There are no nail prints; you cannot
forgive my sins.”
82.
In
the denominational world people misapply Jn. 20 to mean that people can
forgive sins.
83.
Confession is an important part of Biblical teaching.
84.
Certainly we read about confessing sin in the New Testament.
85.
Under no circumstances do we seek out or use someone as denominational
priests.
86.
It
is common in many religions and even in paganism.
87.
In
Christianity, there is only Christ and that is who we need.
88.
Have
we found Him, and are we using Him in confessing our sins?