JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

January 1989

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your inquiry about "confession."

The Worldwide Church of God believes that Christians are to confess their sins to God -- not men. Notice David's example in Psalm 51. No man can forgive sins. Neither has any man been given the office of mediator between mankind and God. This office is held by Jesus Christ alone. The apostle Paul was inspired to write: "Wherefore he [Christ] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). The apostle Paul also wrote in I Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man CHRIST JESUS." Thus, as stated, confession of one's sins ought to be made to God -- not to a fellow human being.

John wrote that when we sin, we have an advocate with God the Father -- Jesus Christ the righteous (I John 2:1-2). He is faithful to forgive our sins when we confess to Him (I John 1:7-10). Therefore, we can come boldly to His throne of grace (Heb. 4:14-16).

The Scriptures do tell us that we may confess our FAULTS to one another -- so we can pray for each other (Jas. 5:16). But there is a difference between seeking a brother's help in overcoming a fault -- human weakness -- and confessing sins of the past. The latter should usually not be done because only God can forgive sin. And humans do not forget, as God does when our sins are removed (Heb. 8:12).

Some try to use John 20:23 to prove that persons in ecclesiastical offices have the power to forgive sins. This verse reads: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (New King James Version). However, it does not mean that mere men can actually forgive sins in a spiritual sense. God alone can forgive sins (Mark 2:7-10; Luke 5:21-24). Christ spoke these words to His future apostles in the context of the Church authority He was giving them (see John 20:21) -- the power to disfellowship those who were dissenters or heretics (see I Corinthians 5:2 and I Timothy 1:20) and bring them back into the congregation upon repentance (II Cor. 2:6-10).

Thank you for your interest. If you do not have our literature concerning true repentance and conversion, please feel welcome to request the booklet entitled JUST WHAT DO YOU MEAN -- CONVERSION?

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT