Is it wrong to keep past sins a secret?

[TRUEPeace]

God tells you to admit your sins to others so you can "let it all out" and be open with one another and not feel bad about it if it hurt someone or could of. That's how I think of it of course I could be wrong, I admit my more shameful sins to God and God only because I feel more comfortable, after all from him did we come and to him is our return.

God bless

 

[briareos]

I think the bible says to confess your faults to one another simply because we need that kind of love and fellowship and support in our lives, you really truly need people in your life who you can bear your sole to and who will love you, not judge you, support you and help you... you need that sort of brother and sisterhood in your life, it's mending and encouraging, don't feel like you are going through this alone... you need people who are with you to the very end, even the very dark and dismal ends, who never care about your mistakes who love you more than they love themselves.

But.. do not let that become a requirement in order to find right standing with God. The bible is clear that if you ask forgiveness and repent of your sins that it is done, God forgives you and he forgets your sins never to remember them and they are as far from you as the east is from the west, gone in the sea of forgetfulness... God created a place, whether literal or proverbial... just to put your sins so that he'd never have to remember them again and he simply asks that we come to him in the blood of Jesus and ask for forgiveness.

You do need people in your life who you can share your hurts and pains and failures with, but do not become confused and mistake that as the means by which you are set free from those sins. Those are two very different things.

We need each other, I need you, much of my calling is in you and my brothers and sisters in Christ... but my forgiveness, my righteousness is in Christ alone.

 

[oosbey1]

Im dealing with this right now and Im so ashamed of the things I've done in the past. A few people know about but I have a hard time bringing the things up to my parents. Its really difficult and quite humiliating at times when I think about it. But I continue to preserver and try to leave my past behind me.

 

[AndrewK9]

If you want to confess some of the things you have done to others then I think it would be a healthy thing to do, personally.

 

[Barricade24]

I know for sure that you should not keep past sins secret from God. Confessing to Him is the most imporant thing. As far as other people go, I would personally encourage it if it will set you free from your guilt. But I think this might be a personal decision what do you think you should do? While I still encourage you to confess to people what wrongs you have done against them. But if it is something you have not done against any person specifically, I would just bring it before God and let him handle it.

 

[chargfox]

Old thread but if it helps someone...

Struggled with the same question about a sin before I was saved. Sometimes it still creeps back into my thoughts. I remind myself that the enemy likes to fire darts. Some say to listen to God's voice. But that can sometimes be clouded with so many various opinions of how others say to handle it and by your past. I had a guilt conscience drilled into me growing up, so I struggled with that still small voice being clouded by all the other exterior voices. I decided God left His voice for us...His Word. So I turned there

Firstly, He says your sins are forgiven and "forgotten". Would God condemn you with a forgotten sin? Word: there is now therefore no condemnation. And isn't bringing it up in prayer just reminding Him of what He forgot? Who is the accuser of the brethren?

Nicodemus said he would pay back what He owed, but Jesus didn't ask Him to. That was a personal decision. Jesus's reply on this matter is "Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Nowhere does He say go and atone for your past sins and then sin no more. These are His Words, His voice and He's already given us His answer. The enemy wants to steal your peace.

 

[aiki]

I've done things that I shouldn't have, things that I now really regret doing, yet I don't have the courage to actually admit some of these things to friends or family.

What really bothers me is when my mom always says how I've never done anything "serious", and then I get that guilty feeling. I don't do those things anymore, so shouldn't I not feel guilty?

The Bible says that we should confess our sins to each other to be healed, yet I'm not sure I can, at least not yet. Is this wrong?

No where in the Bible are we told to confess our sins merely for the purpose of unburdening ourselves. Confession is made, the apostle James says, for the purpose of prayer for healing from sin. (Jas. 5:16) If you've confessed your sin to God (1 Jn. 1:9) and are not struggling with the sin continuously, there is no need - or biblical mandate - for further confession to others.

If you are struggling with sin and could use the prayers of a righteous person for healing, choose wisely who it is with whom you will share your struggle. Do NOT choose a novice to the faith but someone who is, as James says, "righteous," that is, holy, wise, and experienced in the faith and in prayer.

I would also urge you not to become preoccupied with your sin. We are never told in Scripture to look at our sin, to dwell on it in regret or self-condemnation. We will never be made like Christ this way. Paul the apostle has the best advice to follow:

Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

The Bible says that we should confess our sins to each other to be healed, yet I'm not sure I can, at least not yet. Is this wrong?

It seems that most of us Christians carry a few of these.

I have found that with time I do confess many of these with my close mentor and sometimes with my Pastor, Elder and friends.

Most important as you know to confess these things with God and ask Him to help us work it all out and to grant us the gift of repentance.

M-Bob