Biblical Foundations of Confession

Many today view Confession as an outdated practice or an optional devotion, but Scripture and the teachings of the Church affirm that Confession is a divine command, not a human tradition. It is a sacrament instituted by Christ Himself, a powerful means by which we are reconciled to God and renewed in grace.

Jesus made it clear that the forgiveness of sins was an essential part of His mission. After His resurrection, He granted His apostles the authority to forgive sins, ensuring that His mercy would continue through His Church. In John’s Gospel, we read:

"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." (John 20:21-23)

This passage is profound. Jesus does not tell His disciples that people should simply pray to God for forgiveness in private. Instead, He directly gives the apostles the authority to forgive sins in His name. This power was not meant for them alone but was passed down to their successors—bishops and priests—who continue this mission in the Church today.

Some argue that Confession is unnecessary, believing that one can simply confess sins directly to God. While personal repentance is essential, Scripture repeatedly affirms the importance of confessing sins to God through His appointed ministers.

The early Christians understood the importance of vocal confession. St. James exhorts the faithful:

"Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." (James 5:16)

This passage reveals two key truths: 

• Confessing sins is a communal and sacramental act.
• There is a direct link between Confession and spiritual healing.

Sin wounds the soul, and just as a sick person needs a physician, a sinner needs the healing power of Confession. Christ is the Divine Physician (Mark 2:17), and the priest acts as His instrument, restoring the penitent to grace.

In the Old Testament, God commanded the people of Israel to confess their sins through the priests, who interceded on their behalf:

"When a man or a woman commits any of the sins that people commit… they shall confess their sin that they have committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong." (Numbers 5:6-7)

Although Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant, the principle of priestly mediation did not disappear. Instead, it was perfected in the New Covenant, where Christ established the priesthood to forgive sins sacramentally in His name.

When we go to Confession, we do not simply tell our sins to a man; we encounter Christ Himself, who speaks through the priest. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

"It is God who, through the priest, forgives sins; the priest is the sign and the instrument of God's merciful love for the sinner." (CCC 1465)

Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, emphasized the power of Confession:

"The Lord is more eager to forgive us than we are to seek His mercy."

If Jesus Himself has given us this sacrament as the ordinary means of receiving His forgiveness, why would we refuse it? No matter how great our sins, God’s mercy is greater.

Many Catholics delay or avoid Confession, often due to fear, embarrassment, or the mistaken belief that they do not need it. However, frequent Confession is a source of grace, strength, and renewal. Here’s why:

It Restores Our Relationship with God

• Just as the Prodigal Son was embraced by his father (Luke 15:11-32), we are welcomed back into God’s grace when we confess.

It Grants True Spiritual Healing

• Just as Jesus healed the paralytic before forgiving his sins (Mark 2:5-11), Confession heals the wounds of our soul.

 It Strengthens Us Against Sin

• By humbling ourselves and admitting our sins, we receive grace to overcome temptation in the future.

It Helps Us Grow in Holiness

• The saints went to Confession regularly—not because they were sinful, but because they knew its power in drawing them closer to God.

Confession is not about shame—it is about liberation. The devil wants us to believe that our sins are too great, that we should be afraid, or that we can delay our repentance. Do not listen to these lies!

As St. Augustine reminds us:

"God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination."

Jesus longs to restore us, to free us, to fill us with peace. But we must take the first step. Will you respond to His call? Go to Confession, receive His mercy, and be renewed today!