Both Confession and Forgiveness are Necessary

We can not grow in holiness without confession of sin. Even the help programs for alcoholism understands the need to own our sins to go forward in forsaking them. When we forgive without requiring a confession of the offenses, we defy the purpose of confession and forgiveness. The confession helps the sinner to feel cleansed and more able to move forward in refusing that sin the next time they are faced a temptation.

There is no cleansing and growing without confession, there are no restored relationships without confession first and the forgiveness that comes after. We must have both elements to see progress for both parties.