Counsel of Spiritual Life

Counsel #4 — True Confession

Picture: Counsel #4 — True Confession CSL 6.1

Painful penances, wearisome pilgrimages or other acts of self-punishment are not required by God to be saved. All He asks is that we accept Jesus as Lord, confess our sins to Him, and seek repentance from the Holy Spirit. CSL 6.2

Most sin we confess to God alone. But if we have wronged someone or defrauded them or injured them in any way, we confess our wrong to that person (James 5:16). If our sin was of a public character, it should then be publicly confessed.^[5] CSL 6.3

Confession that casts the blame on someone else or excuses or rationalizes the sin is not true confession. CSL 6.4

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13 NKJV CSL 6.5

“Confession will not be acceptable to God without sincere repentance and reformation. There must be decided changes in the life; everything offensive to God must be put away. This will be the result of genuine sorrow for sin. The work that we have to do on our part is plainly set before us: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil….’ Isaiah 1:16, 17.” Ellen White in Steps to Christ, p. 39 CSL 6.6

Reflect: What does true confession require? CSL 6.7