What Does the Bible Say About Confession of Sin?

1. #11 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.

   BSBIf we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. #2James 5:16

   Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

   BSBTherefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

3. #3Proverbs 28:13

   He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

   BSBHe who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.

4. #4Psalms 32:5

   I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

   BSBThen I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

5. #5Acts 19:18

   And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

   BSBMany who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.

6. #6Romans 10:9

   That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

   BSBthat if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

7. #7Romans 3:23

   For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

   BSBfor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

8. #8Psalms 51:1-5

   To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath–sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

   BSBFor the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be proved right when You speak and blameless when You judge. Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

9. #9James 4:17

   Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

   BSBAnyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.

10. #10John 20:22-23

    And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

    BSBWhen He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

11. #112 Peter 3:9

    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

    BSBThe Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

12. #121 Corinthians 10:13

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

    BSBNo temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

Confession of Sin in Torrey's Topical Textbook

Related topics

• Confession
• Confessing Sins
• Confess
• Confessing Sin
• Repentance
• Breaking Bad Habits
• Sin
• Self Abuse
• Accepting Christ
• Confessing to One Another