This has probably been asked before

[Ava2010]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

 

[enril]

I think not, but we can talk to others certainly, but the nt does not, i believe say that you should onfess to man, but you should confess to God.

 

[Dino246]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

Hi Ava, and welcome to CC!

Always confess your sins to God Himself. 1 John 1:-9 tells us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Scripture also tells us to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16). That said, you need to be careful about who hears your confession. It is best that it be a mature Christian who is known to keep strict confidences.

Where your sin has hurt someone, confess that sin to that person. More generally, if you struggle with a repeated sin, confess to a wise fellow believer so that person is also praying for your victory over that sin (that's the James 5 principle at work).

You can safely ignore everything the Catholic Church teaches, because they have added so many false teachings to their "faith" that it is functionally a non-Christian cult.

 

[Magenta]

I think not, but we can talk to others certainly, but the nt does not, i believe say that you should onfess to man, but you should confess to God.

It actually does ~ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that
you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. James 5:16

This page has some great parallel verses: https://biblehub.com/james/5-16.htm

 

[enril]

It actually does ~ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that
you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. James 5:16

This page has some great parallel verses: https://biblehub.com/james/5-16.htm

exactly, but i believe that confess in is used differently than confessing to someone you hurt.

wow! i post on a blank thread and immediately 2 more comments.

 

[Magenta]

exactly, but i believe that confess in is used differently than confessing to someone you hurt.

wow! i post on a blank thread and immediately 2 more comments.

Confessing to someone you hurt sounds more like a desire to make amends...

There may be a confessional aspect to it but in making amends I think
the goal is more to take responsibility for whatever harm was done.

And this benefits yourself as much as the other person...

And goes a long way to restoring any brokenness in the relationship.

 

[enril]

Confessing to someone you hurt sounds more like a desire to make amends...

There may be a confessional aspect to it but in making amends I think
the goal is more to take responsibility for whatever harm was done.

And this benefits yourself as much as the other person...

desire to make amends/
or
desire for support,
depending on which one.

 

[Magenta]

desire to make amends/
desire for support

There is so much community support these days, not only in church (and if you go to a church where you do not have the sense about your fellow congregants, that you can share your innermost thoughts and feelings with them without fear of reprisals and/or being harshly judged, you may need to do something about that, i.e., look for a new church family), but also in a myriad of twelve step fellowships and other programs that are largely free of charge. In the case of 12 step fellowships, they pretty much proliferate all over the world.

 

[Ava2010]

exactly, but i believe that confess in is used differently than confessing to someone you hurt.

wow! i post on a blank thread and immediately 2 more comments.

Hi Ava, and welcome to CC!

Always confess your sins to God Himself. 1 John 1:-9 tells us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Scripture also tells us to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16). That said, you need to be careful about who hears your confession. It is best that it be a mature Christian who is known to keep strict confidences.

Where your sin has hurt someone, confess that sin to that person. More generally, if you struggle with a repeated sin, confess to a wise fellow believer so that person is also praying for your victory over that sin (that's the James 5 principle at work).

You can safely ignore everything the Catholic Church teaches, because they have added so many false teachings to their "faith" that it is functionally a non-Christian cult.

Hi Ava, and welcome to CC!

Always confess your sins to God Himself. 1 John 1:-9 tells us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Scripture also tells us to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16). That said, you need to be careful about who hears your confession. It is best that it be a mature Christian who is known to keep strict confidences.

Where your sin has hurt someone, confess that sin to that person. More generally, if you struggle with a repeated sin, confess to a wise fellow believer so that person is also praying for your victory over that sin (that's the James 5 principle at work).

You can safely ignore everything the Catholic Church teaches, because they have added so many false teachings to their "faith" that it is functionally a non-Christian cult.

Thanks for the welcome also

 

[Bingo]

Hi Ava, and welcome to CC!

Always confess your sins to God Himself. 1 John 1:-9 tells us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Scripture also tells us to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16). That said, you need to be careful about who hears your confession. It is best that it be a mature Christian who is known to keep strict confidences.

Where your sin has hurt someone, confess that sin to that person. More generally, if you struggle with a repeated sin, confess to a wise fellow believer so that person is also praying for your victory over that sin (that's the James 5 principle at work).

You can safely ignore everything the Catholic Church teaches, because they have added so many false teachings to their "faith" that it is functionally a non-Christian cult.

Openly and Unequitable rebuke derogatory language perpetrated by a "pro-claimed Christian". against any choice
of faith one may have. I am not of that faith, but I believe each is entitled to their own beliefs and surely not to be
"Judged" by Cynical Hypocritical rambling from the ugliness of the choice of highly disrespectful words!

 

[CommodoreTeach]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

Psalm 51: 1 - 4
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 

[posthuman]

Matthew 5:23-24​

if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.​

 

[tourist]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

Actually, Jesus died for all sins of the individual, providing that the individual accepts salvation and repentance, in the past, present and future. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.

 

[homwardbound]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

Hi and welcome also

Bottom line, God loves us all, period. So deeply, God sent son to take our deserved death's away and put them on him at that cross is where reconciliation came to be assuredly, accordingly


Authorized (King James) Version
2 Corinthians 5:16
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Catch that above? no one no more are we to follow, but the risen Son in unto Father for us, in Spirit and Truth through you, between Father and you personally first, no need to else has the reigns. The risen Son has them for you to be reconciled as forgiven too, no more work to do, just the down work done begins new to work through you, the risen Son and Father the Holy Spirit with him in you, since day one you believed God in risen Son for you
2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:19
to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

You believe God between God and you correct? Then God has got you freed in God for you through Son as risen to you
The Question you raise is, are I to confess for any more favor, to repent and ask others, to get forgiven over again, as is taught by religion using scriptures incorrectly, IMHO
God at that cross through Son forgave us all, that is done by Son as Son said that in John 19:30 "It is Finished" Done, what got done. Reconciliation forgiveness once for all and to all, that is what got done on that cross (Hebrews10:10) read all of Ten please?
What is left? New Life to get given from Father God Father to us the people. How is that given?
By Father to all those that will not quit belief to Son as risen for them to see new and be new by the done work of Son for them. Not by work(s) of the self, that is the trap today of evil to get one, anyone to do its bidding to be either be guilty or prideful, which are enemies of Father and Son as Won for you! on that cross to you personally to see it from Gods and no one else, thank you.
Confess, yes, yet to who, when and where and how?
You already know this within you the truth of what I just asked
Now seeing this, you hear, go to those you have harmed in past, and ask for their forgiveness from them to you, whether the other knows it was you or not, or even whether or not these others forgive you, matters not, whether others do that or not, it is no longer on you, you confessed personally, thank you, you will experience the freedom once you do what you know to do.
Not easy to do that, yet it is freeing from one's, anyone's conscience to do that personally to each person involved. It is not go to Church and ask the Elders to forgive you. It is going to those person(s) you harmed in past to get freed from this worlds traps of guilt, anger and pridefulness that is in this world still.
We are not of this world anymore, we are new in Father's Spirit and Truth to be honest
I am a failure, I need God's lead, and that is found in risen Son to be led new and confess you need God too. As I think you have is what I hear you have
therefore see
You are accepted in God by Son for you
You are forgiven by God in Son for you
You are sealed by God for you to see this truth, God does just love you and all others too
That is fact to respond to
How shall we respond to that? You decide I have in thanksgiving and praise seeing by Son all sin at that cross taken away, what? No way, I just sinned again and do nt want to, yet I did it again was tis up with that?
Truth, God is the one and only one that can explain that to each kid of God's personally within each person
As you know you believe God, so does God know this too. Therefore rest in trust for God to reveal this to you. It will be revealed, one thing at a time. God works that way for us all to learn new one thing at a time. Add anything else in thought to that and confusion enters in
This has happened to us all, all the things going on at one time, creates confusion in us the people, then. doubt enters and we have forgotten that all our past sins remain forgiven by God (not of self or anyone else else) this is to learn new from those mistakes made one at a time
God is not the author of any confusion. Evil is
Love from God through Son for you Sis, forever, now able to learn new from God himself, go sister go
God just lovers us all y'all

 

[Pilgrimshope]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

I think it’s important to remember it’s a loving father , and a child relationship. Wheras we speak to him every day in the good times and bad . But when there’s an issue we should be able to speak the truth to him

i don’t think we need to go announce anything to others unless it involves them or something . Just my opinion but I believe prayer is between you and your Father in heaven and this would be part of it

 

[vassal]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

if you sin you confess to GOD alone he is the only inf who can forgive you , if you sin against someone, see the person and fix things, ask forgiveness from that person and also ask GOD to forgive you for sinning against your neighbour.
This is what the bible teaches.

Blessings.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

if you sin you confess to GOD alone he is the only inf who can forgive you , if you sin against someone, see the person and fix things, ask forgiveness from that person and also ask GOD to forgive you for sinning against your neighbour.
This is what the bible teaches.

Blessings.

Also one detail tbats important

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭11:25-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

[PAC-fit]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God

Some fine sound input here. One I discovered was Jesus recognizing yours too, ,

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Luke 18:13,14)

 

[Dino246]

Openly and Unequitable rebuke derogatory language perpetrated by a "pro-claimed Christian". against any choice
of faith one may have. I am not of that faith, but I believe each is entitled to their own beliefs and surely not to be
"Judged" by Cynical Hypocritical rambling from the ugliness of the choice of highly disrespectful words!

View attachment 272104

Nice of you to join in. Any specific “cynical hypocritical… highly disrespectful words” that concern you, or just the fact that I answered her questions plainly?

 

[Blade]

If a person sins do they have to confess to someone in person or just to God, just asking because I know Catholics and maybe some other religions may have the same thing. I know if we sin against someone, we should confess to that person but if there wasn't anybody else involved do we. just wondering

In the word there are times when it really helps to confess your sins one to another. Fact that we all fall short and by the lords grace and mercy He got us out of some sin we might have been stuck in and just talking to another believer strong in the faith.. they can really help. I don't believe that is at all why Catholics do it.

But no you don't have to. The hardest part is for me at least forgiving your self. I can't tell you how many times out of no where He reminds me "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.". He forgives.. that means its gone He does not remember it.