Confession, Forgiveness & Healing

Confession, Forgiveness & Healing
One of the most powerful tools for healing and recovery is demonstrated in the 12 Step Movement (from the 1930s on).

The movement uses both one-to-one and group confession of sins and "character defects".

This practice was established amidst a revival among protestant churches which formed the Oxford Group (USA), a precursor to the 12 Step Movement, beginning with the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group.

Confession to God directly and to the body of Christ was practised in the early church according to James saying "confess your sins to each other."

This practice should return to the current church. Without confession and "coming clean", our spiritual life may be bankrupted or at the very least handicapped because unconfessed sin robs us of joy and life with God - and the "power" of humility. Unconfessed sin also gives the enemy a foothold in our lives.

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5: 14-16

If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. 1 John 1:8-10 MSG

Instead, we should agree that we have done wrong things and tell that to God. Then God will forgive us for our sins. He always does what he has promised to do. He always does what is right. He will forgive us and he will make us clean again, whatever bad things we may have done. 1 John 1:9 EASY

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV)