What is confession?
Quick answer
Confession is honest acknowledgment — to God, and sometimes to others — of sin or of faith. The Bible promises forgiveness to the one who confesses sin and salvation to the one who confesses Christ.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
Romans 10:9 speaks of confessing "with your mouth that Jesus is Lord" — saving confession of faith.
James 5:16 also urges confession to one another. Sin loses its grip in the light of honest naming.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06-07. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.