Your ShelfYour Projects

AN INQUIRY

10%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 18, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 18, No. 4.

Read the full edition

AN INQUIRY.

By Editor

C. M. Shepard inquires "if it is a Bible doctrine that we cannot find forgiveness of God for our sins unless we confess them to our fellow men."
ANOTHER. We think it is. But we would suggest the following distinction:
1. Secret sins, which stand only between the offender and the Law-giver, should be confessed in secret to God.
2. Open sins, or sins committed against our fellows, or which have injured those around us, should be confessed to God, and as openly, and as widely, as the influence of the sin extends among our fellow men.
We will give the following texts on the subject of confession.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed.” James v, 16.
The healing in this verse refers to healing the wounds made by faults and sins. Healing of sickness is the subject of verses 14, 15
“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John i, 9.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov. xxviii, 13. See also Lev. v, 5; John iii, 5, 6; Luke xv, 18–21; xvii, 3, 4; Matt v, 23, 24, and a multitude of other texts.