QUESTIONS/ANSWERS ABOUT CONFESSION

QUESTION #70 -- Proverbs 28:13 says, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Does this mean we must go to all whom we have wronged and confess to them? Suppose some of them are dead, or if living, we do not know where they are? Please give the meaning of this and other scriptures having to do with confession.

ANSWER #70 -- Well to begin with, this particular scripture but emphasizes the negative side of the matter. That is to say, If any man denies that he is a sinner or denies that he has committed certain sins of which he is guilty, his denying does not change the facts. That is not the way to get rid of sin The way to get rid of sin is to acknowledge it, repent of it, and believe God for pardon. This particular scripture, according to my judgment, does not deal with making confessions to other people. It deals with making confession to God against whom all sins are committed. On the other question, relating to confession to our fellowmen, the limits here are set at those against whom we have sinned. Public confession of private sins is usually hurtful to the cause of God. And again, God never requires the impossible of us. If those against whom we have sinned are dead or have moved away so that we do not know where they are, willingness to confess and make right will answer, and we should not trouble ourselves about the impossible. Confession to our fellowmen is of little profit unless it be accompanied by restitution. To merely tell another you have wronged him has little merit If you have told things about him that are not true, for example, it is more important that you should go to those to whom you have talked and explain and take the blame and clear the good name of the person slandered. than that you should approach him and make acknowledgment and let the old story stand. And if you have taken property, either by theft or unfair barter, it is of little use to confess, unless you are ready and willing to restore. But restitution also is measured by our ability, as well as by our will, and let no lost man be afraid that God will not take him when he comes the best way he can. And let no one think he can be saved by good and necessary works. In the end we must trust the blood of Jesus to cover, and we must evermore acknowledge that it was mercy and grace that saved -- we can never merit salvation.

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QUESTION #71 -- Jesus said to His disciples, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they shall be remitted unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." This passage is the basis of the claim of Roman Catholics that we must confess our sins to the priests in order to obtain forgiveness. Just what is the meaning of this scripture?

ANSWER #71 -- "The Bible is its own best commentary," and Paul says, God "Hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:19), and the whole passage (read 2 Corinthians chapters 5 and 6) in which these words appear sets forth the responsibility of Christians, in general and of ministers in particular, to show that the salvation of men depends upon them in the sense that they have the gospel, and as men cannot be saved without the gospel, they cannot be saved unless Christians and ministers give them the gospel. If Christians cease to pray and witness and ministers cease to pray and witness and minister the Word of God, men's sins will be retained. If they witness and preach and pray and do their part, souls will find pardon of their sins through their labors -- in this sense and in this sense only, Christians and ministers and priests and prophets and all who know God and the power of the gospel can remit the sins of men.

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QUESTION #72 -- I am troubled about a matter of confession. I am willing to bear anything myself. But my confession would cause heartaches to others and might even break up my home. Everything is in the past except the matter of confession, and I am convinced it could do no good and might do much harm -- would do much harm. But I am troubled and disturbed. What shall I do?

ANSWER #72 -- I think confession may sometimes be based upon a selfish desire to get rid of one's own sorrow, not heeding the fact that it adds unnecessary sorrow to others. And yet it is an exceedingly delicate matter and one upon which it is practically impossible to give general advice. Seems to me it would be better, if you cannot find out by prayer just what course to pursue, that you would take into confidence some trustworthy saint -- who can be trusted not to talk -- and lay the full case before him and get him to pray for and advise you. If you are convinced no good but much harm would come from confession, it seems God is even now showing you what to do.

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QUESTION #73 -- A crime of my past for which I am unable to make amends seems to keep me from obtaining the experience of entire sanctification, and I am in distress.

ANSWER #73 -- The Bible teaches that it is the duty of penitent sinners to make restitution for past offenses, but the standard always is "to the measure of your ability," and if you are sincere in saying it is not possible for you to make amends in the matter that troubles you, you should place the entire matter under the atoning blood of Jesus and should look right up to God for His sanctifying power and then you should stubbornly refuse to allow the devil to trouble you with the subject any more. If you cannot fix it, God will fix it Himself. "Man's extremity is God's opportunity."