Confession

Confession, in the biblical context, refers to the acknowledgment and admission of sin before God. It is a crucial aspect of the believer's relationship with God, emphasizing the need for repentance and the seeking of divine forgiveness. The practice of confession is rooted in the understanding that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Confession is both a personal and communal act, as seen throughout Scripture.

In the Old Testament, confession is often linked with the sacrificial system, where individuals would confess their sins as part of the process of making offerings to God. Leviticus 5:5-6 states, "If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed, bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed, a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him for his sin."

The Psalms frequently highlight the importance of confession. Psalm 32:5 declares, "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." This verse underscores the assurance of forgiveness that follows genuine confession.

In the New Testament, confession is further emphasized as a vital component of the Christian faith. 1 John 1:9 assures believers, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This promise highlights God's readiness to forgive and purify those who come to Him with a contrite heart.

Offering for Sin

The concept of offering for sin is deeply embedded in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where offerings were made to atone for sins and restore fellowship with God. These offerings were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law and provided a once-for-all atonement for sin.

The sin offering, as described in Leviticus, was a critical part of the sacrificial system. Leviticus 4:27-31 outlines the procedure for a sin offering: "If one of the common people sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, he incurs guilt. When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for the sin he has committed. He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. Then the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. He must remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the peace offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven."

The New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the ultimate offering for sin. Hebrews 10:10-12 states, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God."

The offering for sin in the New Testament context is no longer about the repeated sacrifices of animals but is centered on the singular, sufficient sacrifice of Christ. This offering provides complete atonement and reconciliation with God for those who believe in Him.