Confession

Confession is acknowledging sin to God, and also openly declaring faith in Jesus. Confession of sin is linked with forgiveness, and confession of Christ with salvation.

Confessing sin to God

• 1 John 1:9
  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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• Psalm 32:5
  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
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• Psalm 51:3-4
  ³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ⁴Against 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.Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge.
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• Proverbs 28:13
  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
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Examples of confession

• Nehemiah 9:2
  And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
  Show context · Read Nehemiah 9 →
• Daniel 9:4-5
  ⁴And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, ⁵We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.
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• Luke 15:21
  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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• Luke 18:13
  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
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Confessing sins openly

• James 5:16
  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.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.
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• Matthew 3:6
  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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• Acts 19:18
  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.
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Confessing Christ

• Romans 10:9-10
  ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.
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• Matthew 10:32
  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
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• 1 John 4:15
  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
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• Philippians 2:11
  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
  Show context · Read Philippians 2 →

See also

• Repentance
• Forgiveness
• Guilt
• Prayer

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.