There is also another important point to help you benefit from confession and that is understanding the meaning of forgiveness and how it takes place.
The sinner used to bring his trespass sacrifice (an animal) to the Lord for the sin which he had committed, put his hand on the head of the sacrifice and confess his sins (Lev 5:5). He would fully understand that this offering will die instead of him. He deserves to die but this slaughtered lamb dies in his stead, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. The placing of the hand on the lamb’s head proved that the sinner agreed for this offering to replace him and by putting his hand on its head during confession, the sin is transferred from him to the animal...
How do we apply this to the sacrament of confession? It means that the sin has been transferred from you to Christ’s account, to be blotted out by His Blood..
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Then confessing your sins means that you are asking Christ to carry it on your behalf. It is transferred from you to Him, and He will bear it for you..
Here, you feel and understand the meaning of forgiveness. It does not mean that God has renounced His right. The Divine justice has to be fulfilled. But how? By having Christ carry your sin and blot it out by His Blood. This is what was said in the book of Isaiah the Prophet: “All we like sheep have gone astray.. And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all... But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities” (Is 53:6-5).
With this correct understanding, your feelings should be towards confession and its seriousness; forgiveness and how it is achieved..
Here, confession is not separated from Christ and His Blood..
As if you are saying to the priest: ‘I came, my father, so you can take all my uncleanliness and transfer it to the head of Christ to carry it for me; all impure thoughts of the heart, tongue and the body... All my sins with no
And so when David confessed that he had sinned, Nathan said to him: “The Lord also has put away your sin, you shall not die” (2 Sam 12:13). Put away to where? To Christ’s account. And why you shall not die? Because He will die instead of you.
This is the only way to achieve forgiveness. Because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins (Heb 9:22). God hears your sins when you confess them before the priest. He transfers them to the account of His only begotten Son whom He sent to be the propitiation of our sins (1Jn 4 : 10).. “And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7).
Then place the Blood of Christ before you in every confession and if you are ashamed, feel for Him...
Feel for Him who is all purity and is carrying your impurity. The Holy One who knew no sin but was made to bear sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor 5:21). This true shame in its theological understanding is what makes you ashamed to commit sin once more... And it is not only your shame before the priest when he listens to your sins, but also your shame for hurting the Holy Son who carries your sins.
Faith and repentance are the two ingredients necessary for Christ to carry your sins..
Faith in His amazing redemption that He presented for your salvation. The Bible said about this: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).. Whoever believes in Him..
As for repentance that it is necessary for you to be worthy of forgiveness, the Lord said: “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3,5 ).
Do you think confession without faith or repentance will save you? No. Your confession then should be mingled with regret, repentance and true determination to change your conduct. In this way you will be worthy of the Blood of Christ which will cleanse you from all sins. And so you come out of your confession, washed with the Honoured Blood..
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