Confession

We're doing a study on prayer in my small group. This last week was on confession, with a little leading from vcc study notes and Psalm 51 we dived right in to discussion.

It was a reminder of my value for brokenness. In a world that chases so far after success and appearance, humility is despised and pride is exonerated. But our savior is the one who died on the cross and washed other's feet. He came to serve and not to be served, Jesus said I only do what I see the father doing - He needed the father's guidance and direction. He knew better than to try and do anything in his own strength. That's what brokenness is: willing to be taught, willing to listen, willing to be wrong, willing to obey God. It is the prerequisite for a clean heart. Another aspect of this is realizing that you can't do things alone.

I came across John 20:23 , I must have overlooked it before. I generally picture forgiveness as a direct transaction between you and God (via Jesus' Blood) or you and another person. But here Jesus gives tied to the gift of the Holy Spirit an authority that was the dominion of only God alone - Forgiveness of sins

Now I realize that I could combine this with the doctrine of apostolic succession and walla we have the Catholic Priest taking confession in a booth and forgiving or not forgiving sins.

But it seems to me that God alone is still the only one who forgives, only now he does it via the Holy Spirit which is in all believers. But it does point to active participation in the forgivness of sins by other christians not the one on one transaction I usually envision.

I'll chew on the full meaning of it for a while but In the meantime I'll start asking God who needs to be forgiven and have forgiveness spoken over them. I'm sure there are plenty of people who need to be told their sins are forgiven.