The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Planનમૂનો

Agreeing with God

Confession is a significant element in the worship of God in both Old and New Testaments. Declaration and acknowledgment are a part of the believer’s confession of faith. Scripture convicts the individual to acknowledge sin and receive forgiveness (Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13; 1Jn 1:9). James admonished believers to confess sin to others and restore fellowship (Jas 5:16). Jesus offered confession of faith and commitment to God (Mt 10:32–33; Lk 12:8). Confession is a necessary part of reconciliation and restoration; its opposite is denial of wrongdoing, which leads to alienation within a relationship.

The word confession is a combination of two Greek words, homos, meaning “same,” and legō meaning “to say.” In its truest form, confession is “to say the same” or “to agree.” Believers are called to say the same thing about sin God says—to see sin as God sees it. A theological understanding of confession includes both an acknowledgment of specific sins and a recognition that sin needs to be forgiven.

When the believer confesses personal sin and professes faith in Christ, then God will faithfully and justly forgive sin and cleanse unrighteousness (1Jn 1:9). Confession is essential to the believer’s relationship with God and to a fellowship with other people.

Taken from NIV Woman’s Study Bible