James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
This is written to believers, not for one time sin for salvation but for ongoing cleansing.
If we can never admit we sin then we will never be confessing. The Holy Spirit makes us very uncomfortable about attitudes and actions, so much so we must confess them. A non-believer feels no sense of needing to confess sin, they love their sin, even adamantly defending it, believing they are doing nothing wrong.
Sadly though there are many believers who do not grow in holiness and maturity because they still have pride that they do not battle with, they just lean into it, even when they are convicted by God.
These people can quench the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Believers often ignore conviction and the Holy Spirit Who still dwells in them will become silent, no longer speaking to them until they get to the bottom so they will see their need for cleansing.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
How do we grow in holiness? The answer is simple, when we are chastised by Christ in us, and we respond to the discipline, confessing the sin openly and specifically, then we will see a growth spurt.
Why do we see so many believers who seem to be spiritual babies all their lives? It's because they are resisting correction from the Holy Spirit. Whether that correction has come through His servants or through His Word, if we resist we remain spiritual babies unable to grow.
1 Peter 2:2 "1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2 Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.…"
No one who is full of self exaltation and pride will grow. If they are believers God will discipline them, bring them to the bottom of the pit until they confess their sinful heart.
