Confession of sin

Confession of sin leads to divine forgiveness

Under the old covenant

Proverbs 28:13 (NLT)

People who conceal their sins will not prosper,

but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

See also Le 16:21 Part of the ritual of the Day of Atonement involved the high priest confessing the sins of the nation, while laying his hands on the head of a sacrificial goat; Le 26:40–42; 1 Ki 8:33–36; 1 Ki 8:46–52; Ps 32:3–5

Under the new covenant

1 John 1:8–10 NLT

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

See also Jas 5:13–16

Confession of sin accompanied by acts appropriate to repentance

Numbers 5:5–8 NLT

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged. But if the person who was wronged is dead, and there are no near relatives to whom restitution can be made, the payment belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest. Those who are guilty must also bring a ram as a sacrifice, and they will be purified and made right with the Lord.

See also Le 5:5–6; Ezr 10:10–11; Ne 9:1–3; Lk 19:8; Ac 19:18–19

Examples of confession of sin

On behalf of the nation

Nehemiah 1:5–7 NLT

Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

See also Ezr 9:5–15; Is 59:12–13; Is 64:6–7; Je 14:7; Je 14:20; Da 9:4–14

By the people as a whole

1 Samuel 7:5–6 NLT

Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)

See also Ezr 9:4–7; Ezr 9:10–15; Ne 9:33–35; Ps 106:6; Je 3:24–25

By individuals

Psalm 51:1–5 NLT

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

See also 2 Sa 24:10; 2 Sa 24:17; Job 7:20; Job 42:5–6; Is 6:5

Confession of sin to other people

Joshua 7:20–21 NLT

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.”

See also Lk 15:17–24; Jas 5:16