Bible Question:

Why do I go to the priest for confession?

Bible Answer:

There are three very reasons why we do not need to go to a priest for confession.

First Reason

Christians are holy priests before God according to 1 Peter 2:5, 9. So we do not need a priest. We are our own priest.

You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NASB)

God is not talking about offering actual animal sacrifices, but spiritual sacrifices. Romans 12:1 says this spiritual sacrifice is the offering of our life to God. But this verse is about more than spiritual sacrifice. It says Christians are priests. If we are priests before God, we can come to Him by ourselves. We do not need anyone to represent us.

Second Reason

1 Timothy says,

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5 (NASB)

This means the only person between a Christian and God is Jesus Christ himself. Jesus is our mediator. Now a mediator is one who brings two people together. Jesus is that person. There is only one mediator and it is Jesus. This verse very clearly states that there is no human between an individual Christian and God. We can talk directly to Him.

Third Reason

God established the Aaronic priesthood for the Old Testament times because the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ, had not been born yet. Once the perfect Sacrifice had been born and His blood shed for you and I there was no longer any need for the Mosaic Law and its human priests and animal sacrifices. Ephesians 2:11-22 and Hebrews 8-10 reveal that the Mosaic has been abolished. The Levitical priesthood has also been dissolved. Now Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Heb. 4:14; 6:20). There is no priest greater – He is God.

Conclusion:

We do not need to confess our sins to a priest because: 1) Christians are royal priests; 2) Jesus is our High Priest; and 3) He is the only one we need to talk to. That includes confessing our sins.

Suggested Links:

What Replaced The Mosaic Law? - part 1
What Replaced The Mosaic Law? - part 2
Why Was Jesus' Sacrifice Necessary?
The Benefits of Jesus' Death - audio
Jesus Our Great High Priest
Searching For God