Confession is the Key

If someone is repentant and truly sorry for sins against us, it really does dissolve the bad that they did to us and restores the relationship.

The trouble with our culture is that most people believe forgiveness comes without repentance, so there is never a sense that things have been resolved. The ugly feelings remain because no one was sorry.

I have experienced a few times in my life when someone was truly sorry for how they treated me. And, I have had to humble myself too when I have sinned.

Those people went on to never do those things again and the friendship was restored. I learned from having to humble myself and didn't repeat those same sins again. Having to humble myself taught me to avoid having to do that by not repeating the sins.

I have no ill will whatever toward those who repent, because they wanted a resolution to the damaged relationship, willing to admit sin.

Repentance, (a change of mind) truly does restore a relationship. We know someone is authentic when they come to us remorseful, willing to humble themselves for the sake of someone else. Trust is rebuilt when someone takes the initiative to care deeply about another.

Without this step in the relationship, there can be no trust that anything will change in the way they relate to us. There must be a change to restore.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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.

Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Acts 19:18
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.