In the first article on Restoring the Wayward (see the last issue of GG) we discussed the necessity of the recognition, repentance and the confession of sins in order to be forgiven and restored to the right relationship with God and the necessity of those "which are spiritual" (Galatians 6:1) doing all that is within their power to bring about such restoration. We closed part one by pointing out the fact that the erring child of God is required to confess the sin or sins he has committed in order to receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Forgiveness of sins is conditional upon a confession of sins. So many times we hear, "If I have done anything wrong I want to be forgiven," instead of "I have sinned, Father, forgive me." We begin the second and final installment by discussing the person or persons to whom the confession of sins must be made.
To Whom Is Confession Made? Confession must always be made to God. Every sin one commits is a sin against God. Therefore, the Christian seeking forgiveness must always be acknowledged to the Heavenly Father.
Sometimes it is necessary that confession also be made to man. James gives this command in James 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." This clarifies the matter for us. Confession must always be made to God and must also be made to men when men have been wronged. Sins of a public nature require a public confession but private sins require only a private confession. In every case the confession should be as public as the sin, no more so.
Some "big meeting" preachers urge every person who has committed any sin of any kind to come forward at the invitation and make a public confession. This helps them to be in greater demand for meetings. But if this is necessary to forgiveness of any and all sins, then everyone of us, including the preacher would have to go forward at every service…The principle is clear, if you have wronged one person, go to that person. If you have offended a group, go to them. If you have wronged the church, go before the church. If you have wronged a person at a distant place, go to that person. Correction is the purpose behind the confession, not humiliation. This procedure is the only way to make things right.
There is a practice that is becoming all too common among us, a person commits a sin while at congregation "A" and then he goes over to congregation "B" and makes his confession. This is totally out of order. To go before a congregation who are not even aware of the sin of which the individual is guilty and make confession is without reason or purpose. The whole purpose of the confession is to make right the wrong with those who have been wronged.
What Are We To Confess? There are some who contend that before one can be forgiven and restored to the Lord and His church that he must publicly name every sin of which he is guilty. Is that necessary or is it enough to say, "I have sinned and ask the forgiveness of God and the church?" David was guilty of a multitude of sins including adultery and murder. Notice what David said when he was confronted by Nathan: "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die" (2 Samuel 12:13).
When one goes before the church with a broken and contrite heart and confesses, "I have sinned;" God knows what he is guilty of and so do all others who are aware of his sin. There is no need to publicize the sin any farther than it is already known. When one thus confesses there should be prayer for his forgiveness (Acts 8:22). John said (1 John 2:1-2), "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Half Brothers! When is the sinner restored? The answer is obvious; the moment God forgives him of his sins! There are brethren who are advocating the idea that those who have repented are to be put on probation. That they are just "half brothers" and full fellowship cannot be extended. When God forgives He likewise forgets and so must we or else we cannot be forgiven. The Lord has taught us to pray: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). We must have the attitude of the father whose son left him to go into a far country, and when he came back rushed out with outstretched loving arms to welcome him home.
One final question, how long should we work to bring back the one who is lost? There are three reasons why Christians become lost. Some just wander intentionally off, as did the lost sheep and are lost by their own carelessness. Some become lost due to our carelessness as the coin was lost by the woman's carelessness. Then others deliberately go away as did the lost boy. It is relatively easy to restore those who have just come back and the same is true of those who through their own carelessness become lost. But we must make sure that we have searched diligently, as did the shepherd and the woman of the parables. We must search until they are found and brought back. With those who have deliberately gone back into sin they first have to come to themselves as the boy in the hog pen did. But we should be watching, praying and anxiously waiting for them to come home. In my opinion this should be for as long as we live or until they have returned.-1925 County Highway 59, Haleyville, AL 35565