Confessing Sins

Someone poses the question, “Is it necessary to confess your sin to your parents?” First, a child of God who sins needs to confess or acknowledge his or her sins to God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJV). Confessing one’s sins to God is part of the process of repentance. “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:22).

Secondly, Christians need to confess or acknowledge their sins to each other. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). In addition, dependent children and their parents have a relationship before God where the parents are responsible for guiding the children (Ephesians 6:1-4). Therefore, it may be necessary for children to confess or acknowledge their sins to their parents, particularly about publicly known sins, owing both to the child-parental relationship as well as for Christians to acknowledge to fellow Christians their sins of which they repent.