Bible says it is essential to confess and renounce( leaving) our sins before getting water baptized. It is a part of repentance process. It is the Holy Spirit which brings conviction of sins in our heart. We need to respond to it by repenting which includes confession and renouncing ( leaving). Even after having born again experience whenever it is necessary we can confess our sins and turn to God.
Acts 19:18: “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
Mark 1:5 “And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”
Matthew 3:6: “… and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.”
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.”
The New Testament gives various evidences that a person needs to confess his sins and renounce it in order to repent for his sins. God changes person’s heart when he repents for his sins (Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10).
God is very serious of our sins. We cannot ignore sin. We have to be honest before God for our sins. We need to acknowledge our sins and receive forgiveness through Christ Jesus.
Confession of sins does not mean you have to confess your sins to a priest in denominational church. Roman Catholics and many other Christian denominations believe this practice. They quote verse James 5:16 to support their argument.
James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
But this verse is talking about mutual confession of sins in between believers. We can confess our sins personally to God and also we can do it to another believer. It is always good to confess in front of another believer. He can help you to get delivered from certain demonic( if any) problems.
So how to confess our sins?
We may have this question how to confess our sins. Do we need to wait for an appointed time or a special place? Or we need a particular person?
The answer is No. We can confess our sins personally to God.
But it is always good to confess it in front of another believer who is willing to help us to deal with any particular sinful area in our life. Sometime confession and renouncing helps us in deliverance of demonic. So it is always helpful to confess our sins in front of another believer.
Do I have to remember all my sins (entire life) and confess them?
No. That is not possible. The Holy Spirit will remind us of the sins that you need to confess. There are certain sins which are the reasons for demonic stronghold in our life. Holy Spirit will help you to get out of those strongholds by repenting from those sins.
Proverb 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.
If we really want to repent then nothing can stop us from confession of sins. Confession of sins brings our sinful areas in the presence of God. On the other hand not willing to confess is an attitude of covering our sinful areas. Confession and forsaking is a clear sign of openness of heart. Not willing to confess is a sign of covering our sins. That is not repentance.
On the other hand if we hide our sins then demons also can hide in those areas of our life. This will keep us in bondage. Thus confession and renouncing of sins can also help us to receive deliverance.
It is Godly sorrow that leads one to repentance
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
It is Godly sorrow that produce repentance. God lead people to repentance, but then it is human responsibility also to repent for our sins. Worldly sorrow can not change the heart. Some time a person can confess every sinful act that he committed but still his heart is very far from God. On the other hand some time a person might not confesses all his sins but he actually repented from all sins.
We can spend time with the Lord and in his words. We can spend time in personal prayer and fellowship with God. God will expose the dark sinful areas of our life. As we confess and leave those sinful practices, the blood of Jesus washes us of all sins. We can receive freedom from sins and demonic strongholds.
Do I have to repent after having born-again experience?
we need to check our heart . If there is any deceitfulness of sin, we need to cleanse ourselves from that.
2 Corinthians 7 : Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
