Confession 

"The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works."--Augustine of Hippo

Memory Verse: James 5:16.

Introduction: For every believer, confession is the first step in conversion and repentance. For every believer, confession is an on-going work necessary to sustain a pure relationship with the Father. From conversion to resurrection, confession is an integral part of the believer's life. No one can live the abundant life Jesus promised or receive eternal life without wholehearted, honest confession.
  Like the other Disciplines, confession is both a divine grace and a discipline. It is a divine grace because, unless God gives His grace through Jesus Christ, confession is simply words. By His grace and the blood of Jesus, we can seek His complete forgiveness. It is also by His grace that we can approach other believers and confess our faults to them, realizing in others the forgiveness of God. But, confession is a discipline because we must do something of our own volition. God never makes us confess; we must do it ourselves.
  Confession should be seen as personal and corporate. 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us there is one Mediator between God and man, our Savior Jesus Christ. No human mediator is needed to receive forgiveness of sins. While this is true, personal confession is to be tempered with corporate confession (corporate in the sense of confessing one to another). As Bonhoeffer writes: "A man who confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself; he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person. As long as I am by myself in the confession of my sins everything remains in the dark, but in the presence of a brother the sin has to be brought into the light."
  Confession must be preceded by self-examination (Matthew 7:1-5). A general confession such as, "Please forgive me for everything I did wrong today," doesn't get to the heart of the matter. We don't sin generally--we sin specifically. Therefore, my specific sins, which represent my true nature and character, need to be recognized and followed with confession and repentance. Specific confession allows for no "errors in judgment" or avoiding personal responsibility. It not only brings individual accountability, it brings personal victory and purity.

Lesson Questions:

1. Why is the confession of sin, which results in forgiveness, completely dependent upon the cross? Ephesians 1:7; Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 2:12. Also see the confession of King David in Psalm 51.
Note: While the cross is the only means of forgiveness, we don't receive forgiveness without claiming the finished work through confession. The words, "I have sinned, please forgive me," only have meaning because we access the blood of Jesus.

2.Why is confession both a private matter, between us and God, and a public matter? 1 Timothy 2:5; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9; Luke 17:1-4.

3. Discuss the need to put off gossip and backbiting in relation to biblical confession. Proverbs 25:9; Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 20:19.

4. How have we forsaken the biblical authority to forgive or retain the sins of others? John 20:23; Matthew 6:14,15; Ephesians 4:32.
Note: This is not to say we hold the ultimate power and authority of forgiveness within ourselves. We should claim the truth of Matthew 18:18, which promises that whatever has been confirmed, decided, and bound in heaven, the Church has the authority to confirm, decide, and bind on earth.

5. Why is it necessary that we confess our sins to those we have sinned against? Matthew 5:22,23; James 5:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13.

6. Why is necessary that we forgive those who have sinned against us? Matthew 18:15-35; Matthew 6:14,15; Philemon 1:8-21.

7. Discuss the significance of the three elements of true confession:
  a. Self-examination--Matthew 7:1-5; 1 Corinthians 11:28-31.
  b. Sorrow--2 Corinthians 7:9,10.
  c. Repentance--2 Chronicles 7:14; Acts 2:38.

8. To whom should we confess our sins? Proverbs 11:13; Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1; Acts 20:28.

9. How should we respond to those who are confessing sins to us? Luke 15:22-25; Matthew 18:35; Proverbs 10:12.
Note: As Christ is merciful, we should be merciful. In the parable of Matthew 18:21-35, the key element lacking from the sinful servant was the realization that he, too, was a sinful man who was worthy of death.