Debate: Is Confession of Sins required for the Forgiveness of Sins

This page is created to debate the questions (1) Is Confession of Sins required for the Forgiveness of Sins? (2) Should Confession be made to one another, specifically (3) Should the Presbyters or Priests of the Church be called in, as St. James implies?

Texts:

• 1 Jn 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• Jam 5:16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

• Jn 20:23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

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Yes, Confession of Sins is required Biblically for the Forgiveness of Sins

User:NishantXavier

1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins- says it all

This passage plainly teaches us that Confession of sins is required for the forgiveness of sins. If we confess our sins, we are assured of being forgiven. If we do not confess, we have no assurance that our sins are forgiven, and that we are pardoned. That shows Confession is the Biblical way of being assured forgiveness.

Jam 5:16 Confession of sins is to be made one to another. The Priests of the Church are to be called

Once more, the passage itself proves that, not only is confession of sins necessary for sins to be forgiven (see verse 15 - "15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.") but this confession is to be made to others, i.e. to Priests, after the Elders or Presbyters of the Church have been called in, to anoint the sick man. This plainly teaches Confession is necessary, and Confession before Priests.

Jn 20:23 As a further explicit confirmation, Our Lord Jesus gave His Apostles the authorization to remit sin

As further explicit confirmation, we read in the plain text of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ Our Lord, the Lamb of God, the Great High Priest, gave to His Apostles, the First Priests of His Church, the dispensaries of the Treasury of His Grace, the Power to retain and remit sins. This power which resides in the Presbyters of the Church for all time must be invoked and called upon, whenever sins need to be forgiven.

Jn 20:23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.