80 New Testament Verses About Confession, Forgiveness, and Cleansing

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80 New Testament Verses About Confession, Forgiveness, and Cleansing

100% New Testament Theology

A Scripture Study Prepared by the Priory of Salem Institute of Theology

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The New Testament teaches not only that Christians must repent and forsake sin, but also that God has provided forgiveness, cleansing, restoration, and mercy through Jesus Christ. The Gospel does not leave the sinner hopeless. It calls him to confess, repent, believe, be forgiven, and walk in newness of life.

Confession of sin is not contrary to grace. It is one of the ways grace is received and applied. The Apostles taught that those who deny sin deceive themselves, but those who confess their sins are forgiven and cleansed by the faithfulness and righteousness of God.

From the preaching of John the Baptist, to the words of Christ, to the Apostolic teaching of Acts, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude, and Revelation, the New Testament repeatedly connects repentance, confession, forgiveness, cleansing, mercy, and restoration.

The following passages demonstrate that confession and forgiveness are essential parts of Christian life. The believer is not called to hide sin, excuse sin, or continue in sin, but to come to God through Christ for mercy, cleansing, and restoration.

Many modern debates ask whether repentance and confession are necessary. The New Testament repeatedly answers that God forgives, cleanses, restores, and heals those who come to Him in truth through Jesus Christ.

100 New Testament Verses About Confession, Forgiveness, and Cleansing

“Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” — Matthew 3:2 (repentance begins the process of forgiveness)

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 (mercy received and extended)

“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” — Matthew 6:12 (daily confession)

“If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” — Matthew 6:14 (forgiveness linked to mercy)

“If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:15 (unforgiveness condemned)

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” — Matthew 11:28 (Christ receives the burdened)

“There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth…” — Luke 15:7 (heaven rejoices over repentance)

“God be merciful to me a sinner.” — Luke 18:13 (humble confession)

“This man went down to his house justified…” — Luke 18:14 (repentant sinner forgiven)

“Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name…” — Luke 24:47 (forgiveness proclaimed)

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” — John 1:29 (Christ removes sin)

“Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” — John 8:11 (forgiveness and transformation)

“Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them…” — John 20:23 (authority concerning forgiveness)

“Repent, and be baptized… for the remission of sins.” — Acts 2:38 (repentance and forgiveness)

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” — Acts 3:19 (sins removed)

“To give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” — Acts 5:31 (repentance linked to forgiveness)

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness…” — Acts 8:22 (call to repentance)

“Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” — Acts 13:38 (forgiveness through Christ)

“Being justified freely by his grace…” — Romans 3:24 (grace and justification)

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven…” — Romans 4:7 (forgiven people blessed)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” — Romans 8:1 (freedom from condemnation)

“Be ye kind one to another… forgiving one another…” — Ephesians 4:32 (forgive as Christ forgave)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” — Ephesians 1:7 (forgiveness through Christ)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood…” — Colossians 1:14 (redemption and forgiveness)

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another…” — Colossians 3:13 (forgiveness practiced)

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace…” — Hebrews 4:16 (access to mercy)

“How much more shall the blood of Christ… purge your conscience…” — Hebrews 9:14 (cleansing of conscience)

“Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience…” — Hebrews 10:22 (inner cleansing)

“Confess your faults one to another…” — James 5:16 (confession expected)

“And pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” — James 5:16 (restoration through prayer)

“If any of you do err from the truth…” — James 5:19 (restoration of the fallen)

“Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8 (love and mercy)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” — 1 Peter 2:24 (atonement)

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…” — 1 John 1:8 (honest confession)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” — 1 John 1:9 (promise of forgiveness)

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar…” — 1 John 1:10 (deny sin at peril)

“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father…” — 1 John 2:1 (Christ intercedes)

“He is the propitiation for our sins…” — 1 John 2:2 (Christ satisfies divine justice)

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” — 1 John 1:7 (ongoing cleansing)

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper…” — echoed in apostolic teaching (confession over concealment)

“Keep yourselves in the love of God…” — Jude 1:21 (remain in grace)

“Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire…” — Jude 1:23 (restoration ministry)

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent…” — Revelation 2:5 (restoration through repentance)

“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly…” — Revelation 2:16 (repentance remains necessary)

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten…” — Revelation 3:19 (correction is mercy)

“Be zealous therefore, and repent.” — Revelation 3:19 (restoration remains available)

“They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” — Revelation 7:14 (ultimate cleansing)

“Blessed are they that do his commandments…” — Revelation 22:14 (those who persevere in grace)

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” — Luke 6:37 (forgiveness expected)

“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven…” — Luke 7:47 (forgiveness through faith)

“Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” — Mark 2:7 (God is the source of forgiveness)

“Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” — Mark 2:5 (Christ forgives sins)

“That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” — Mark 2:10 (Christ’s authority)

“This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” — Matthew 26:28 (atonement for forgiveness)

“He shall save his people from their sins.” — Matthew 1:21 (Christ saves from sin)

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” — Matthew 3:8 (repentance accompanies forgiveness)

“There is forgiveness with thee…” — echoed throughout apostolic teaching (God’s merciful character)

“He that is forgiven little, loveth little.” — Luke 7:47 (forgiveness produces love)

“The publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” — Matthew 21:31 (repentant sinners accepted)

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34 (Christ intercedes)

“Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” — Luke 23:43 (repentant thief forgiven)

“Through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” — Acts 10:43 (forgiveness through Christ)

“Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” — Acts 11:18 (repentance and life)

“To open their eyes… that they may receive forgiveness of sins…” — Acts 26:18 (forgiveness proclaimed)

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood…” — Romans 5:9 (justification through Christ)

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God…” — Romans 5:1 (reconciliation)

“God commendeth his love toward us…” — Romans 5:8 (mercy through Christ)

“Neither fornicators, nor idolaters…” — 1 Corinthians 6:9 (sin forgiven through conversion)

“But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified…” — 1 Corinthians 6:11 (cleansing)

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself…” — 2 Corinthians 5:19 (reconciliation)

“Be ye reconciled to God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:20 (restoration)

“In whom we have redemption through his blood…” — Ephesians 1:7 (forgiveness through redemption)

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it…” — Ephesians 5:25-26 (cleansing)

“According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration…” — Titus 3:5 (washing and renewal)

“Having therefore… boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” — Hebrews 10:19 (access through cleansing)

“Let us draw near… having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience…” — Hebrews 10:22 (purification)

“Confess your faults one to another…” — James 5:16 (confession)

“He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way…” — James 5:20 (restoration)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” — 1 Peter 2:24 (atonement)

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins…” — 1 Peter 3:18 (reconciliation)

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things…” — 1 Peter 1:18-19 (redemption)

“If we walk in the light…” — 1 John 1:7 (ongoing cleansing)

“We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” — 1 John 2:1 (intercession)

“He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” — 1 John 1:9 (promise of forgiveness)

“Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.” — Revelation 1:5 (washed by Christ)

“They washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” — Revelation 7:14 (final cleansing)

Continue This Scripture Study Series

This article is part of a larger Scripture study prepared by the Priory of Salem Institute of Theology examining repentance, conversion, obedience, holiness, and the new life in Christ.

Related Reading

Recovering True Orthodoxy: Scripture Teaching, Not Merely Cultural Sentiment

Conclusion

The Orthodox Church of the Culdees affirms the historic Christian doctrine that salvation is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet Scripture also teaches that this grace calls sinners to confession, repentance, forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation, and restoration through Christ.

For this reason the historic Churches developed catechumen instruction, baptismal vows, confession of faith, confirmation, confession of sin, and preparation for Holy Communion. Candidates publicly renounced Satan, forsook the works of darkness, confessed Christ, and committed themselves to walk in newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees practices inter-communion broadly with churches that preserve the mainstream Gospel of Jesus Christ, requiring communicants to be converted, baptized, confirmed where applicable, and prepared for the Holy Mysteries.

We understand Orthodoxy in its broad historic sense: the reception of the Ecumenical Faith, the practice of the Sacraments, and Apostolic Succession. While maintaining our own traditions, including Saturday liturgies and the Biblical Holy Days preserved within our communion, we gladly recognize fellow Christians who confess Christ, repent of sin, seek holiness, and endeavor to walk in obedience to the Gospel.

“Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations…” — Luke 24:47

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” — Acts 3:19

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” — 1 John 1:9

“The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” — 1 John 1:7