Biblically speaking, there are two kinds of confession: vertical confession to God and horizontal confession to people. Vertical confession is a private matter between us and the Lord. The forgiveness we seek in this instance is familial, not judicial. Judicial forgiveness refers to God’s once-for-all act of pardoning all our sins at the moment of faith in Christ, securing our eternal standing as justified believers (John 5:24; Rom 3:28; 8:1). Familial forgiveness, on the other hand, concerns the ongoing restoration of our fellowship with God as our heavenly Father when we confess our post-salvation sins (1 John 1:9).
As Christians, when we sin, we break fellowship with God (1 John 1:5–7). What is lost is not our salvation—which remains secure and permanent (John 10:28)—but fellowship. Sin grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30), violates God’s righteous standard (1 John 3:4), and leaves us functioning according to the sin nature (1 Cor 3:1–3). Yet God, in His grace, has provided a simple and powerful means for us to receive familial forgiveness and be restored to fellowship and the filling of the Holy Spirit: confession. God promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; cf. Psa 32:5).
Confession is simple: we name the sin to God—without excuses, without bargaining, and without dramatic performances. No crawling across the floor. No endless weeping to prove we mean it. We are simply honest with God. At the moment we confess, forgiveness is granted, cleansing takes place, and fellowship between the Father and His child is restored. This happens whether we feel different or not. God said that if we confess our sins to Him, “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Faith is to trust God at His Word. He said it; He will do it. He cannot lie. We accept His forgiveness by faith, not by feelings.
In divine forgiveness, God may sometimes eliminate the consequences of sin, but not always. In His grace and sovereignty, God may choose to remove or lessen the consequences as part of His mercy, as seen in the case of David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 12:13). However, there are instances when the natural consequences of sin remain, even after forgiveness, because they serve a purpose in God’s discipline and our spiritual growth. For example, while David was forgiven, the death of his child still occurred as a result of his sin (2 Sam 12:14). This demonstrates that while God forgives and restores fellowship, the consequences of sin may still be part of His disciplinary process. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 11:32, Paul writes that God disciplines believers for their sins so that they will not be condemned with the world, indicating that God’s discipline often serves as a means of sanctification. The key distinction is that while God’s forgiveness restores our fellowship with Him, the consequences, if not removed, remain part of the process of sanctification (Jam 1:2-4) or divine discipline (Heb 12:6).
The second kind of confession is horizontal: confession to people. This is a relational issue between human beings. When we sin against someone—whether by lying, stealing, slandering, or deceiving—we have not only offended God but also injured our neighbor. Jesus taught that before we waltz down the center aisle with our offerings, we need to go make things right with our brother (Matt 5:23-24). James also emphasizes the importance of confession among believers when he writes, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (Jam 5:16), highlighting the role of mutual honesty and prayer in maintaining spiritual health within the body of Christ. Confession to people involves humbly admitting the wrong, asking for forgiveness, and making restitution when necessary. And importantly, we keep the confession limited to the person we sinned against. There is no need to turn it into a public spectacle; we address it directly and appropriately. Horizontal confession promotes peace, restores relationships, and prevents bitterness from taking root and growing into spiritual cancer (Heb 12:15). Sometimes the right moment for confession is immediate; other times, it requires prayerful patience and wisdom. We cannot control the other person’s response, but we are responsible for confessing when necessary, trusting God with the outcome.
A Difference in Outcome
Vertical and horizontal confession are both biblical, but they differ in direction, purpose, and outcome. Vertical confession is directed to God alone and always results in forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration of fellowship (1 John 1:9). God is faithful and unchanging—His grace never fails. We confess. He forgives. Period. Horizontal confession, on the other hand, is directed toward people whom we have wronged. It is relational, and its purpose is to seek reconciliation and peace within the human sphere (Matt 5:23–24; Jam 5:16). But unlike God, people are not always ready to forgive. Sometimes they respond with grace and reconciliation; other times with silence, anger, or rejection. The outcomes of horizontal confession are uncertain and dependent on the will of the other person. With God, the issue is always resolved when we confess; with people, we obey God by confessing, but we entrust the results to Him. Our responsibility is honesty, humility, and obedience; the other person’s response is between them and the Lord.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both vertical and horizontal confession play crucial roles in the believer’s life, but they serve different purposes and yield different outcomes. Vertical confession restores our fellowship with God and secures forgiveness, as it is based on His unchanging faithfulness (Psa 32:5; 1 John 1:9). This process is always certain, for God’s forgiveness is not contingent upon our feelings or external circumstances. Horizontal confession, however, is a relational matter that seeks reconciliation with others and healing within the body of Christ (Matt 5:23–24; Jam 5:16). While God is always ready to forgive, people may not always respond with the same grace, and the outcomes are not guaranteed. Nonetheless, whether confessing to God or to others, our responsibility remains the same: to confess honestly, humbly, and with a sincere desire for reconciliation, trusting God with the outcome, whether or not the consequences of our sin are removed.
Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.
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