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Obstacles to Confessing Sins in Prayer According to Scripture

Confessing sins in prayer is a fundamental aspect of Christian devotion, involving direct address to God and an acknowledgment of one's iniquity [1, 2, 12]. However, several obstacles can hinder believers from fully engaging in this practice.

One significant barrier is the failure to acknowledge one's own sinfulness. Scripture teaches that all human beings are born with a sinful nature [8]. The apostle Paul emphasizes the universal sinfulness of humanity, stating that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin's power" and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions [10]. To deny this inherent sinfulness or the commission of actual sins is to "make him a liar" [11]. This denial prevents the necessary humility and self-abasement that should accompany confession [1, 12]. Lamentations 3:39 asks, "Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" [5], implying that acknowledging sin is a natural response to suffering and divine judgment.

Another obstacle is a lack of godly sorrow and a genuine desire to forsake sin. Confession, according to Torrey's Topical Textbook, should be accompanied by "godly sorrow" and a commitment to "forsaking sin" [1]. Matthew Henry notes that prayer should include not only confession of past sins but also "our sorrow for sin and our resolutions against it" [12]. If confession is merely a verbal exercise without a corresponding change of heart or intention to turn away from sinful acts, it becomes superficial. Proverbs 28:13 states that "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy" [1]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Daniel 9:13 highlights that prayer is only accepted when joined with the desire to turn from sin to God [14].

Malice and an unforgiving spirit can also impede sincere confession. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists malice as springing from an evil heart and being "incompatible with the worship of God" [3]. Jesus himself taught the importance of praying for those who injure you [3]. If an individual harbors malice or an unwillingness to forgive others, their own prayers, including confessions, may be hindered. The Psalmist even describes a situation where, for the wicked, "Let his prayer be turned into sin" [4].

The fear of man can also prevent open confession. Torrey's Topical Textbook notes that "the fear of man prevents" confessing Christ [6]. While this specifically refers to confessing Christ, the underlying principle applies to confessing sins as well. The desire to maintain a certain image or avoid judgment from others can lead individuals to conceal their transgressions rather than bring them before God in prayer.

Furthermore, a lack of understanding regarding God's faithfulness and justice can be an impediment. Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 1 John 1:9, explains that God is "faithful, because to such he has promised mercy... and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice" [13]. If a person doubts God's willingness or ability to forgive, or does not grasp the atoning work of Christ, they may struggle to confess their sins with the expectation of pardon. Confession is meant to be followed by pardon [1].

Finally, deliberate or presumptuous sins, committed with an "insolent or arrogant attitude," can create a significant barrier [9]. Such sins represent rebellion against God [9]. While all sin is serious, a hardened heart that deliberately defies God's commands may find it particularly difficult to genuinely humble itself in confession. The conscience, which witnesses within man and accuses of sin, must be purified by the blood of Christ [7]. Without this purification and a responsive conscience, the path to full and unreserved confession remains obstructed [1, 7].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confession of Sin — God requires -- Le 5:5; Ho 5:15. God regards -- Job 33:27,28; Da 9:20-23. Exhortation to -- Jos 7:19; Jer 3:13; Jas 5:16. Promises to -- Le 26:40-42; Pr 28:13. Should be accompanied with Submission to punishment. -- Le 26:41; Ne 9:33; Ezr 9:13. Prayer for forgiveness. -- 2Sa 24:10; Ps 25:11; 51:1; Jer 14:7-9,20. Self-abasement. -- Isa 64:5,6; Jer 3:25. Godly sorrow. -- Ps 38:18; La 1:20. Forsaking sin. -- Pr 28:13. Restitution. -- Nu 5:6,7. Should be full and unreserved -- Ps 32:5; 51:3; 106:6. Followed by pardon -- Ps 32:5; 1Jo 1:9. Illustrated -”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
  4. Psalms “When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin. -- Psalms 109:7”
  5. Lamentations “Why does a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? -- Lamentations 3:39”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conscience — Witnesses in man -- Pr 20:27; Ro 2:15. Accuses of sin -- Ge 42:21; 2Sa 24:10; Mt 27:3; Ac 2:37. We should have the approval of -- Job 27:6; Ac 24:16; Ro 9:1; 14:22. The blood of Christ alone can purify -- Heb 9:14; 10:2-10,22. Keep the faith in purity of -- 1Ti 1:19; 3:9. Of saints, pure and good -- Heb 13:18; 1Pe 3:16,21. Submit to authority for -- Ro 13:5. Suffer patiently for -- 1Pe 2:19. Testimony of, a source of joy -- 2Co 1:12; 1Jo 3:21. Of others, not to be offended -- Ro 14:21; 1Co 10:28-32. Ministers should commend themselves to that of their pe”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  9. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  10. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  11. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  12. Daniel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Daniel 9:4: We have here Daniel's prayer to God as his God, and the confession which he joined with that prayer: I prayed, and made my confession. Note, In every prayer we must make confession, not only of the sins we have been guilty of (which we commonly call confession), but of our faith in God and dependence upon him, our sorrow for sin and our resolutions against it. It must be our confession, must be the language of our own convictions and that which we ourselves do heartily subscribe to. Let us go over the several parts of this prayer, which we have reason to think that”
  13. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins - If, from a deep sense of our guilt, impurity, and helplessness, we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our iniquity, his holiness, and our own utter helplessness, and implore mercy for his sake who has died for us; he is faithful, because to such he has promised mercy, Psa 32:5; Pro 28:13; and just, for Christ has died for us, and thus made an atonement to the Divine justice; so that God can now be just, and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness - Not only to forgive the sin, but to”
  14. Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 9:13: yet made we not our prayer before--literally, "soothed not the face of." Not even our chastisement has taught us penitence (Isa 9:13; Jer 5:3; Hos 7:10). Diseased, we spurn the healing medicine. that we might turn, &c.--Prayer can only be accepted when joined with the desire to turn from sin to God (Psa 66:18; Pro 28:9). understand thy truth--"attentively regard Thy faithfulness" in fulfilling Thy promises, and also Thy threats [CALVIN]. Thy law (Dan 8:12), [MAURER].”
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