Dangers of Unconfessed Sin in Worship and Prayer
Unconfessed sin poses significant dangers to an individual's worship and prayer life, creating a barrier between the worshiper and God. The Bible indicates that certain attitudes and actions are incompatible with true worship and can even provoke divine anger [1, 3].
Malice, for instance, is described as springing from an evil heart and is explicitly forbidden, being incompatible with the worship of God [1]. Similarly, strife, which is a work of the flesh and an evidence of a carnal spirit, is also forbidden [7]. Slander, including whispering, backbiting, and evil surmising, is an abomination to God and comes from an evil heart [8]. These sins, along with others like fornication and uncleanness, are considered unbecoming for those who are called to be God's children and followers [14].
The act of covering one's sins, rather than confessing them, is presented as a path to failure. "He that thus covers his sins shall not prosper," meaning such a person will not succeed in their attempt to conceal their sin, as it will eventually be revealed. Furthermore, they will not obtain pardon for their sin [15]. This highlights the necessity of confession for spiritual well-being and reconciliation with God.
The New Testament also warns against participating in sacred acts while harboring unconfessed sin. For example, partaking in the Lord's Supper "without being conscious that it is the Lord's body" puts a person in danger [2]. This suggests that a lack of self-examination and repentance before engaging in worship can have serious consequences.
The concept of sin itself is broad, encompassing not only overt acts but also internal dispositions. All human beings are born with a sinful nature, and while the godly fight against it, the wicked indulge it [9]. Sin can be understood as "vanity," referring to all sorts of sinful acts [10]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [12]. The first sin, as described in Genesis, involved a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience, demonstrating a preference for the creature over the Creator [11].
God's anger is not an arbitrary emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin, as depicted throughout the Old Testament [13]. This divine response underscores the seriousness of sin and its potential to hinder one's relationship with God. The Old Testament also outlines various sin offerings for unintentional sins, indicating a system for addressing transgressions and seeking atonement [4, 6].
While all sin is serious, some traditions distinguish between different types of sin. The Apostle John speaks of a "sin unto death," for which he does not say one should pray, implying a distinction from sins that are not unto death and for which intercession is appropriate [5]. This suggests that certain unconfessed sins might have more severe spiritual implications.
Sources
- 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”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 11:29 (BBE) — For a man puts himself in danger, if he takes part in the holy meal without being conscious that it is the Lord's body.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
- Numbers “Numbers 15:27 (BSB) — Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering.”
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 John 5:16 — If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”
- Leviticus “Leviticus 6:30 (LEB) — But any sin offering from which ⌞some of⌟ its blood is brought to the tent of assembly to make atonement in the sanctuary must not be eaten; it must be burned in the fire.’ ””
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Slander — An abomination to God -- Pr 6:16,19. Forbidden -- Ex 23:1; Eph 4:31; Jas 4:11. Includes Whispering. -- Ro 1:29; 2Co 12:20. Backbiting. -- Ro 1:30; 2Co 12:20. Evil surmising. -- 1Ti 6:4. Tale-bearing. -- Le 19:16. Babbling. -- Ec 10:11. Tattling. -- 1Ti 5:13. Evil speaking. -- Ps 41:5; 109:20. Defaming. -- Jer 20:10; 1Co 4:13. Bearing false witness. -- Ex 20:16; De 5:20; Lu 3:14. Judging charitably. -- Jas 4:11,12. Raising false reports. -- Ex 23:1. Repeating matters. -- Pr 17:9. Is a deceitful work -- Ps 52:2. Comes from the evil heart -- Mt 15:19; Lu 6:45.”
- 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).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- 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).”
- 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”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 5:3: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,.... The apostle proceeds to dehort from several vices, which are unbecoming the dear children and followers of God; and which the love of Christ should constrain them to avoid: the first of these, which is simple "fornication", is the sin which is committed between single or unmarried persons; and is contrary to the law of God, is a work of the flesh, and is against a man's own body; it renders persons unfit for church communion, brings many temporal calamities upon them, and exposes them to divine wrath, and ex”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 28:13: Here is, 1. The folly of indulging sin, of palliating and excusing it, denying or extenuating it, diminishing it, dissembling it, or throwing the blame of it upon others: He that thus covers his sins shall not prosper, let him never expect it. He shall not succeed in his endeavour to cover his sin, for it will be discovered, sooner or later. There is nothing hid which shall not be revealed. A bird of the air shall carry the voice. Murder will out, and so will other sins. He shall not prosper, that is, he shall not obtain the pardon of his sin, nor can he have a”