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The Purpose of Confessing Our Sins to Others

The Purpose of Confessing Our Sins to Others

The Bible says,

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:14–16 NIV84).

The Bible advises us to confess our sins to one another—but why? What does this mean? Is this talking about making one’s personal sins public? Is it talking about ritual confession with a church-authorized priest in a confessional booth?

And what is going on that James has connected confessing sins with healing from sickness?

My understanding is that James is guiding believers to apply the methods of God that bring healing to one’s heart and mind, and such healing also has a very positive impact on our physical health. James is not talking about a legal confession, a confession to a church official for some ceremonial absolution, nor is he talking about making personal sins public. He’s talking about confessing to another human being for the purpose of healing one’s heart and mind from the fear and shame that sin brings.

One of the impacts of sin, of transgressing the laws God has built into the operations of reality, of going against love, is that sin causes a change inside the sinner—they experience guilt, fear, and shame.

Guilt, fear, and shame activate the brain’s stress circuitry and trigger the body’s immune system, which increases various inflammatory factors; if not resolved, it contributes to various health problems, such as insulin resistance, obesity, adult-onset diabetes, vascular disease, depression, dementia, and other health problems.

Unresolved guilt, shame, and fear also interfere with sleep, which disrupts the immune system, circadian rhythms, the brain’s ability to clear waste products of metabolism, the body’s ability to reduce the stress cycle—all of which increase health problems.

Additionally, chronic guilt and shame undermine healthy relationships. People with chronic guilt and shame feel insecure, worrying about people finding out about whatever it is they are feeling guilt and shame about. They will be guarded, learn to wear social “masks,” pretending to be what they believe others want, and always keep certain boundaries up to prevent true intimacy for fear of rejection if people knew the cause of their guilt and shame. All of this worsens both mental and physical health.

God’s plan of salvation is the plan of healing, of restoration, of re-creation, of removal of the sin and its damaging effects from the lives of people and restoring them to health, to wholeness, to holiness, to righteousness—and this requires not a legal pardon for bad deeds but the removal of sin, the purging of fear, selfishness, guilt, shame, and all unhealthy motives from the hearts and minds of people.

God promises that if we turn to Him,

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws (Ezekiel 36:26, 27 NIV84).

God isn’t seeking to give us legal pardon; He is seeking to give us a new life, a healed life, a pure heart, a right spirit, a recreated and healed mind, motivated with a new spirit of love and trust.

One of the means God has ordained for the removal of fear and shame after one has repented and been reconciled to Him is the confession of one’s sins to another mature, Christian human being. The purpose of this is to purge the fear and shame, the doubt as to whether others could still love them, still care for them, still accept them, still allow them to be part of the community, still allow them to serve and be useful in God’s cause.

As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they became afraid, ran, and hid because they were naked. They felt exposed. They were afraid of rejection, embarrassment, and humiliation, and they tried to cover their shame with their own fig-leaf garments. They tried to make themselves look good—their “mask” to cover up their guilt and shame.

This is what sin does to people; it damages the image of God within, corrupts the spirit of love with fear and selfishness, guilt and shame, which, if not removed, is corrosive, leading to isolation, which further inflames fear with subsequent worsening of one’s physical health.

Sinners who have repented and received God’s love and forgiveness also need to experience real-life acceptance, connection, reconciliation, love, and being valued by people who know of their sins. So that they can know their sin has not invalidated their life, permanently ruined them, and made them worthless. It is when the repentant person experiences from another human that they are genuinely loved and accepted despite another person knowing their most shameful sins that the shame and fear that cause isolation and distrust are removed.

One of the places this is most effectively practiced and demonstrated is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. When an alcoholic goes to an AA meeting, they introduce themselves, saying, “Hello, I’m Bob, and I’m an alcoholic.” They confess their addiction, and the group responds with, “Welcome, Bob.”

This process demonstrates the healing element of what James is advising. The alcoholic knows they are struggling, knows they have a problem, knows they have let themselves, God, family, and friends down. They have tried repeatedly on their own to stop, but they have repeatedly failed and feel discouraged, helpless, and ashamed, fearing rejection, condemnation, and even punishment. They fear no one could love them if they knew about their sins; their dignity is damaged; they fear to look others in the eye, and, thus, at the AA meeting, they confess their addiction and experience that they are accepted despite everyone knowing of their weakness.

But simultaneously with their acceptance as a human who is valued and loved, the AA group identifies the addiction as destructive, harmful, and something to be overcome so that the addict can be healed and set free. The alcoholic is accepted; the addiction is not. Likewise, Christians are to always love and accept the sinner who is repentant but struggling while we reject the sin and seek to apply God’s methods in achieving victory. Part of this healing action is the loving acceptance of a repentant sinner.

When the repentant sinner experiences the acceptance, love, and appreciation from people despite them knowing about their sins, there is a relief from fear and shame. Their stress circuitry calms, the inflammatory cascade turns off, sleep improves, and physical health improves. The individual can move forward without the “mask,” living an authentic life, making real connections, in which they are known. All of this has a healing impact on our entire being.

This full healing confession is specifically prescribed for addicts in the fourth and fifth steps of AA’s 12 steps, which read:

Step 4: Make a Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory of Yourself

Step 5: Admit to God, Yourself, and Another Human Being the Exact Nature of Your Wrongs

These steps apply the healing principle that James has instructed. In order to heal from sin, we must stop running from the truth that we are broken and admit to God, ourselves, and at least one other human being the truth about ourselves, our struggles, our weaknesses, and our sins. When we do, we experience forgiveness from God, a new heart from God, re-creation from God, love from God, and a new animating motivation from God. And when we confess to at least one other human being and they live in harmony with Jesus and respond as Jesus would, then we experience acceptance. And it is in experiencing this human acceptance that the fear and shame are removed. The removal of fear and shame from one’s heart and mind is a requirement for healing.

If you are struggling with chronic fear, guilt, and shame, I would encourage you to do a searching moral inventory and then go to God, confess all to Him, and ask Him for a new heart and right spirit, experience His presence in your inner being, His love, peace, grace, mercy, acceptance. And then find at least one mature Christian and have this conversation, explaining your longing for God’s healing in your life, and confess your sins to that person so that you can experience that you are loved as a child of God and that your past sins have not excluded you from God’s love, grace, or fellowship in His family.

If you would like to explore the power of prayer and the purpose of the oil in James’ recommendation above, check out our blog Anointing Oil: Real Remedy or Superstitious Ceremony?

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Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 1

Thank you! I love listening to the Come And Reason Ministries Bible study classes and am using some of your notes to get the lessons together that I will be teaching. You always have such good quotes and Bible texts and pull things together to make good sense.

T. C., IN, USA

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 44

We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia