Question: Does the Bible teach that we are to confess each sin by name?
Answered by: Fritz Awig, who has been a volunteer with us since January, 2009.
Answer: Confession of sins is an important part of the Christian walk with God. Certainly 1 John 1:9 is one of the most familiar passages on this topic: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” There is a great deal of comfort in this verse because of God’s promise to forgive our sins when we confess them to Him.
That said, your question is also very important: do we have to confess each sin by name? And the corollary statement is just as important: if we don’t confess a sin by name, are we still forgiven?
In my research, I could not find any verses that command us to confess each sin by name. However, that does not mean that the Bible is silent on this topic: I found numerous examples of men and women asking God to forgive a particular sin, and they named the sin specifically.
For example,
“‘Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’ ‘Please, my Lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.'” (Numbers 12:8, 11)
“David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You, take away the guilt of Your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.'” (2Samuel 24:10)
“For our offenses are many in Your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.” (Isaiah 59:12-14)
I also found examples of men and women asking God for forgiveness of their general sinfulness. For example,
“Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O LORD.” (Psalm 25:7)
Psalm 51 (the entire Psalm)
“I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against You. We have acted very wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws You gave Your servant Moses.” (Nehemiah 1:6-7)
What can we conclude from this? I believe God wants us to be specific in our confession of sin; if we are aware of a particular sin in our lives, we should confess it by name and ask for His forgiveness (and we should ask Him for strength so as not to commit the same sin again). But I don’t believe God is keeping a list of sins we have committed and is checking them off as we confess them. And if we miss one by name, He won’t forgive us.
Why do I believe this? Because thankfully, our forgiveness isn’t based on what we do (i.e., our works); if it were, then we would have to make sure we covered every one to ensure our forgiveness.
No, the good news is that our forgiveness is based on God’s immense grace and mercy. And therefore, we can simply imitate the tax collector’s prayer, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). And God promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
Thank you for your question and may God bless you!
Question:Why does the Bible constantly mention human beings as “he” instead of “he or she”? I just want to understand so I can explain to someone who has problems with the Bible in regards to sex. I find it odd that the Bible does that but I trust sexism isn’t the reason for it.
Answered by: Gary Baker, who has been a volunteer with us since June, 2016.
Answer: Part of your question relates to trying to place past writings in a modern context. You use the example of the Bible using a single indefinite pronoun (he) instead of the dual version (he or she), and state that you “find it odd.” It may surprise a great many people that the use of “he or she” is a very recent change in writing style. While written language has been in use for thousands of years, using “he or she” when referring to an unspecified person has been in use for less than fifty years. Prior to that time, a single pronoun was used, with the gender determined by the author, and often dictated by culture or tradition.
Whether modern or ancient, most literary works were written with the intent that they would be published. That meant that the authors were required to conform to the styles accepted at the time in that culture. Prior to a short time ago, a work that consistently used “he or she” or “they” when referring to a single person would have been sent back for editing or rejected outright. In the majority of cultures we derive our literature from, and our own culture until a short time ago, the masculine pronoun (he) was the accepted form in writing, and was generally used. This may appear sexist from a modern perspective, though I doubt that there was any such intent on the part of the authors in most cases. This was simply the way things were.
The Bible, however, is a special case. For believers, it is not merely literature, but the inspired word of God. The writers were given the enormous task of conveying messages that would transcend their culture, while still being understandable to their culture. Given the limitations of language and references, it has to be expected that the writing style would conform to that of the common people at the time, in most cases the ancient Hebrews and Greeks. This is not only the reason why most of the pronouns are masculine, but why so many of the examples refer to agriculture, or why the Lord is referred to often as a “rock” or “shield.” In many cases, the intent was to provide an example that was easily understandable, not to exclude others.
I have had more than a few discussions with people who claimed that the Bible was “sexist” or “bigoted.” My response is generally along the lines of “How do you know?” Where do we draw our knowledge from that it is wrong to treat others differently because of their race or gender if not the Bible? Where else do our notions of right and wrong come from? In Galatians 3:28, Paul stated “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This was a radical statement at the time, and while equality among races and genders is a common notion in countries with a Christian heritage, much of the rest of the world still takes a far different view. This is not an accident.
How people view the Scriptures often comes down to how they view God, and how they view God in relation to themselves. A fair question to ask yourself might be “Do I believe that God is fair?” If you answer “no,” then you are sitting in judgement of God, and I think a great deal of prayer and reflection is in order. If you answer “yes,” then ask yourself “Do I believe God is sovereign?” Again, a “no” answer is something that must be dealt with on a personal level. But if the answer is “yes,” accept all that the answer implies.
A sovereign God is able. He is able to accomplish His will. He is able to convey His Word in the manner He intends, and on His own terms. I have heard many people claim to believe that the prophets and apostles wrote the Scriptures as they saw fit, and it makes me shake my head. The God that I worship spoke a universe into creation. I certainly think He is capable of ensuring that His prophets take communicate accurately. If that were not the case, He would not be God.
