“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Such is a truth taught not only in the Old Testament but also in the New. Christians are taught to confess their sins to God: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confession of sins to God that is accompanied by repentance pleases God, as seen in Acts 8:22. But let us consider some poor examples of confessions made by men. None of these are confessions to God, and we see in each of them a confession that is void of good fruit.
First, consider Pharaoh. As a result of the utter devastation from the hail of the seventh plague, the Bible says, “And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer’” (Ex 9:27-28). Pharaoh knows the word “sin” and that he has been wicked. But he is not so much interested in forgiveness as he is in relief of his and his land’s suffering. Many today are the same way. Instead, we should have godly sorrow, sorrow that recognizes the seriousness of our sin against God, and repentance that follows.
Second, consider King Saul in 1 Kings 15. Through the prophet Samuel, God directed Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites. He disobeyed. But he claims to Samuel that he did obey God. When confronted by Samuel that he did not obey God, including the evidence that he did not obey God, Saul denies his disobedience and shifts the blame to the people. Samuel speaks very sternly to Saul again, and then Saul confesses his sin to Samuel, gives a reason for his sin, and then asks that Samuel pardon his sin and return with him so that he may worship the Lord (1 Sam 15:24-25). Finally, he acknowledges his sin, albeit with an accompanying reason. But following more rebuke from Samuel, Saul says, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God” (v.30). Saul is more concerned with appearances than with his godly sorrow and his own spiritual condition. Even so today, many are more concerned with appearances and others’ estimation of them than with being right with God. We should have godly sorrow that leads to repentance.
Finally, consider Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. After Jesus was bound and led to Pontius Pilate, the Bible says, “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood’” (Matt 27:3-4a). Judas confessed his sin to men, but not to God. He felt remorse – regret – for what he had done, but sorrow and regret are not enough unless they lead to repentance, a change of mind that results in a change of life. “Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted” (2 Cor 7:10). A confession to God out of true repentance is lacking. Many today feel sorrow and regret about sin, but what is lacking is godly sorrow that leads to repentance, and then confessing the sin to God.
Each of these examples of confessions is not so much confessing sin as it is simply reporting sin. The difference has to do with what is lacking – what does not accompany – the confession. Godly sorrow and the repentance that it works needs to accompany confession to God.
-Larry Jones