Not Faith Plus Confession of Sin

Not Faith Plus Confession of Sin

Someone may fancy that his sins are as scrolls hanging on the cross. Each time he confesses his sin a scroll is taken down; and whatever sin is unconfessed remains hanging there. The Bible never teaches such a way. This does not mean, of course, that we do not need to confess our sins. Quite the contrary, Christians ought to confess. Yet confession of sin is not a condition for salvation.

But does not 1 John 1.9 say: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"? Does not this tell us that we should confess our sins? It is true that there is such a verse in the Bible; even so, let us be clear that 1 John is not written to unbelievers. The "we" here refers to Christians because this letter is written to believers. Now in this letter, three classes of Christians are continually being mentioned: (1) little children who have life, (2) young men who have power, and (3) fathers who have experience. 1 John speaks of fellowship. If a Christian sins, he must confess his sin; otherwise, his fellowship with God will be hindered. In order to have his fellowship with God restored he must confess his sin.

It is very wrong, though, to tell an unbeliever that he needs to confess his sins in order to be saved. As a sinner is being convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, he believes in the finished work of the Son of God and his sins are all forgiven before God. The condition for a sinner to be forgiven by God is faith. Nowhere in the whole Bible can it be found that for a sinner to be saved he must believe plus confess his sins. Jesus Christ has already accomplished the work of redemption; and whoever believes in the witness which God renders concerning His Son shall be saved.