How Should We Respond to One Another After a Confession?
What happens after we confess sin or someone confesses to us is just as important as the confession itself. Here’s what I’d say to the people who are hearing another person’s confession.
#1—Protect your heart from becoming judgmental. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” When a fellow sinner comes to you, help restore them to spiritual health through the Gospel. Do this gently, and with a guarded heart, which should be careful of also falling into sin.
What sin should we avoid? Certainly the sin the person is confessing to us, but in the context, the sin is having a judgmental spirit that is conceited and devours each other (Galatians 5:15, Galatians 5.25″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>5:25). There is no need for you to judge the person who is confessing to you. Have you not been appalled by your own sin that Jesus nailed to the cross? How has God treated you? With gentleness and mercy.
Of course, if you are the one sinned against, you may rightly feel the pain of being sinned against. This is not sin on your part. Being wounded by sin hurts. But you must remain on guard to not respond sinfully (cf. Ephesians 4:26). You may need time to process or need to bring someone else in to help both of you. These are all God-honoring steps.
#2—Point the person who confessed to Jesus. When we listen to someone confess sins, we fulfill the call to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).
#3—Pray for the person who confessed. We are told to “pray for one another, that you may be healed.” When someone confesses sin, take them to the throne of grace through prayer. Pray promises of God’s mercy over them and call upon the Lord to keep those promises. Lift those burdens off the weary soul of your friend and cast them upon the Lord knowing that He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
#4—Plan with the person who confessed. Finally, help the person make plans to not repeat their sin. Proverbs 28:13 says there is mercy for those who confess and forsake their sin. Confession without repentance is an empty endeavor. Confession should be followed by a change in our actions. We should help those who sin discover why they did and what steps we can take to ensure that it won’t happen again. This takes time, patience, prayer and wise counsel. The Lord will supply it though, so do this hard work for the glory of God.
Lord, we pray that You would make us a humble and holy people who honor you in all things. Make us quick to confess to You and to those You have brought alongside us. Give us help and stir our hearts to long for the day when we will see Your face and never know sin again. Come Lord Jesus.
For more on why we should confess sins to God if we’re already forgiven, check out this answer by John Piper and this one by Joe Thorn and David Jackman.
