JOHN STOTT

CONFESS YOUR SINS

The Way of Reconciliation

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505

www.eerdmans.com

© 1964 John R. W. Stott

All rights reserved

Originally published in the U.K. by Hodder and Stoughton in the Christian

Foundation Series under the title Confess Your Sins © 1964, (ASIN: B0000CM2WX).

U.S. edition originally published by Westminster Press, Philadelphia ©1965.

This edition published 2017 by permission of

The Literary Executors of John R. W. Stott.

ISBN 978-0-8028-7509-9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stott, John R. W., author.

Title: Confess your sins : the way of reconciliation / John Stott.

Description: Grand Rapids, Michigan : William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, [2017] | Originally published: Philadelphia : Westminster Press, [1965, c1964]. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017006475 | ISBN 9780802875099 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Confession—Anglican Communion.

Classification: LCC BX5149.C6 S7 2017 | DDC 264/.030862—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017006475

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Contents

Foreword by Ray C. Ortlund Jr.

Introduction

1. Secret Confession (to God)

2. Private Confession (to an offended individual)

3. Public Confession (to the church)

4. Auricular Confession 1 (to a priest):

The Minister’s Authority

5. Auricular Confession 2 (to a priest):

The Penitent’s Need

Conclusion

Appendix: Some Official Anglican Statements

Bibliography

Subject Index

Scripture Index

Foreword

A little book can make a big impact. That is certainly true of Confess Your Sins: The Way of Reconciliation by John Stott. Only a little over one hundred pages, the book’s message has the power to renew the church today.

John Stott (1921–2011) was one of his generation’s premier writers and preachers on biblical themes. His books stood out for their faithfulness to Scripture, clarity of expression, and cogency of reasoning. Never have I read something written by John Stott and walked away unhelped. As for his preaching, Kenneth Kantzer, for many years Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, wrote this about Stott: “When I hear him expound a text, invariably I exclaim to myself, ‘That’s exactly what it means! Why didn’t I see it before?’ ” I would say the same.

Preaching at Stott’s memorial service, J. I. Packer spoke of “his vision for a renewed church” as one key to his lasting influence. And this is where his wonderful book Confess Your Sins fits in. Who of us doesn’t sin? And who of ...