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Confession

E-mail from Phil Frankford, with the technical explanation of "Without public confession, public sin is not forgiven", from a Biblical perspective--3/20/2005:

Douglas -
 
Here is what is expected. Here is what the Bible says is required as the first steps toward repentance.

KJV Luk 19:1-10 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.  And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

CEV Luk 19:7-10 Everyone who saw this started grumbling, "This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him."  Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated."  Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham.  The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost."

Let's see what was going on.   Zacchaeus was a known sinner. Christ acknowledge as much.
CEV Luk 19:7 Everyone who saw this started grumbling, "This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.
CEV Luk 19:10 Jesus said to Zacchaeus, "Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham.  The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost."
What did Zacchaeus do to show repentance?
And1161 Zacchaeus2195 stood,2476 and said2036 unto4314 the3588 Lord;2962 Behold,2400 Lord,2962 the3588 half2255 of my3450 goods5224 I give1325 to the3588 poor;4434 and2532 if1487 I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation,4811, 5100, 5100 I restore591 him fourfold.5073
He was required to openly and publicly confess what he did.  Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord  

1) I'll deal with my ill gotten gains. 

2) I'll not keep what was never mine. 

3) I will stop coveting. 

4) I will stop DEFRAUDING people.

Please take careful note to what he really said.  Please look at "false accusation,4811"

G4811   συκοφαντέω   sukophanteō   soo-kof-an-teh'-o   From a compound of G4810 and a derivative of G5316; to be a fig informer (reporter of the law forbidding the exportation of figs from Greece), "sycopant", that is, (generally and by extension) to defraud (exact unlawfully, extort): - accuse falsely, take by false accusation.

Remember what David wrote in Psalm 32 - 

Psa 32:1-11 (A special psalm by David.) Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away.  You bless them by saying, "You told me your sins, without trying to hide them, and now I forgive you." Before I confessed my sins, my bones felt limp, and I groaned all day long.  Night and day your hand weighed heavily on me, and my strength was gone as in the summer heat.  So I confessed my sins and told them all to you. I said, "I'll tell the LORD each one of my sins." Then you forgave me and took away my guilt.  We worship you, Lord, and we should always pray whenever we find out that we have sinned. Then we won't be swept away by a raging flood.  You are my hiding place! You protect me from trouble, and you put songs in my heart because you have saved me.  You said to me, "I will point out the road that you should follow. I will be your teacher and watch over you.  Don't be stupid like horses and mules that must be led with ropes to make them obey."  All kinds of troubles will strike the wicked, but your kindness shields those who trust you, LORD.  And so your good people should celebrate and shout.

 It is very clear that when the abuse is public and the sin is to a community. the confession must be public and before the community with no tricks or deceit.

Psa 32:2 Blessed835 is the man120 unto whom the LORD3068 imputeth2803 not3808 iniquity,5771 and in whose spirit7307 there is no369 guile.7423

Psa 32:5 I acknowledged3045 my sin2403 unto thee, and mine iniquity5771 have I not3808 hid.3680 I said,559 I will confess3034 my transgressions5921, 6588 unto the LORD;3068 and thou859 forgavest5375 the iniquity5771 of my sin.2403 Selah.5542

guile - H7423   רמיּה   remîyâh   rem-ee-yaw' From H7411; remissness, treachery: - deceit (-ful, -fully), false, guile, idle, slack, slothful.

hide - H3680  כּסה   kâsâh  kaw-saw' A primitive root; properly to plump, that is, fill up hollows; by implication to cover (for clothing or secrecy): - clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare H3780.

confess - H3034  ידה  yâdâh yaw-daw' A primitive root; used only as denominative from H3027; literally to use (that is, hold out) the hand; physically to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively to bemoan (by wringing the hands): - cast (out), (make) confess (-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank (-ful, -s, -sgiving).

Without public confession, public sin is not forgiven.

Jam 4:8 Draw nigh1448 to God,2316 and2532 he will draw nigh1448 to you.5213 Cleanse2511 your hands,5495 ye sinners;268 and2532 purify48 your hearts,2588 ye double minded.1374
 
Jam 5:16-20 Confess1843 your faults3900 one to another,240 and2532 pray2172 one for another,240, 5228 that3704 ye may be healed.2390 The effectual fervent1754 prayer1162 of a righteous man1342 availeth2480 much.4183  Elijah2243 was2258 a man444 subject to like passions3663 as we2254 are, and2532 he prayed earnestly4336, 4335 that it might not3361 rain:1026 and2532 it rained1026 not3756 on1909 the3588 earth1093 by the space of three5140 years1763 and2532 six1803 months.3376  And2532 he prayed4336 again,3825 and2532 the3588 heaven3772 gave1325 rain,5205 and2532 the3588 earth1093 brought forth985 her848 fruit.2590  Brethren,80 if1437 any5100 of1722 you5213 do err4105 from575 the3588 truth,225 and2532 one5100 convert1994 him;846 Let him know,1097 that3754 he which converteth1994 the sinner268 from1537 the error4106 of his846 way3598 shall save4982 a soul5590 from1537 death,2288 and2532 shall hide2572 a multitude4128 of sins.266

Jam 5:16 If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot.

This is one of the real reasons that our churches are so SICK.

Before the alcaholic can overcome their problem, the must admit that they have a problem.

Without confession, relationships can not begin to be restored.

We must address these problems for what they really are and say no more.  We have to be real to ourselves, accountable, and approachable before this mental illness will ever leave the churches.   Until this level of confession happens, we will never see healing and restoration.

Be blessed,
Phil Frankford

Also visit http://www.cultabuse.com

Up Confession Court

The Missing Dimension: www.missingdimension.com

Last Updated: Sunday, March 20, 2005