What does the Bible say about confessing sin?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls believers to confess their sins honestly to God, trusting his mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. First John 1:9 promises that God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse those who confess, because Christ's sacrifice has fully dealt with sin. Proverbs 28:13 contrasts hiding sin with confessing and forsaking it, leading to mercy. James 5:16 encourages humble confession to one another and prayer within the church, where repentance may be supported and healing sought. Confession is not a work that earns acceptance, but the fruit of faith and repentance. God remembers his people's sins no more through the new covenant grace secured by Christ (Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 9:14).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 John 1:9 21 votes
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- James 5:16 16 votes
Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
- Proverbs 28:13 6 votes
He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- Romans 10:9-10 6 votes
that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation.
- Hebrews 8:12 5 votes
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”
- James 1:13-15 5 votes
Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.
- Hebrews 9:14 4 votes
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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