Sin and Repentance

When we sin, do we always have to make an actual confession for that to be forgiven or do we just have to have faith that Jesus forgives us through faith in him (of course I'm not trying to provide an argument for license of sinning). And what happens when we sin, but we forget that we sin, yet we still keep faith in Jesus Christ? Would we be forgiven? And lastly the unforgivable sin? Is that any sin that we forget/don't confess (while still having faith in Jesus Christ), or is that the sins of the person who just doesn't have faith in Jesus Christ? Thank you and have a nice day.

You ask important questions.  Let’s review briefly what Scripture says about sin, forgiveness of sins, confessing sin, and the unforgiveable sin.

All people are guilty of sin (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:23).  Jesus Christ came into the world to forgive the sins of all people (John 1:29; 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; 1 John 2:2).  Through faith in Jesus Christ we personally enjoy the forgiveness Jesus won by his holy life and sacrificial death (Mark 16:16; John 5:24; Romans 5:1; 10:9).  God does not dole out his forgiveness piecemeal.  He has forgiven all our sins.

So why do we confess our sins?  Because God directs us to do that (Matthew 6:12; James 5:16).  God’s will is that we confess our sins because a denial of sin and other wrong attitudes about sin are dangerous (Hebrews 10:26; 1 John 1:6-10).  God’s promise is that he hears the penitent cries of his followers and forgives their sins (I John 1:9).

Does this mean—as you asked—that you and I need to confess every sin in order to have forgiveness for every sin?  No.  We cannot possibly list all our sins.  Sometimes we are oblivious to our own sins (Psalm 19:12).  So we confess the sins we know, we confess our sins in general, we confess that we are by nature sinful.  God’s good news is that he has forgiven all our sins.  We stand and live in his grace (Romans 5:2).

The unforgiveable sin that you asked about is mentioned in Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:29-30, and Luke 12:10.  In Matthew chapter 12 we hear of Jesus performing a miracle.  Those who witnessed the miracle wondered if Jesus was the promised Messiah.  The Pharisees’ reaction to that miracle was charging Jesus of being an ally of Satan.  In Jesus’ response to the Pharisees, he warned of “blasphemy against the Spirit” not being forgiven (Matthew 12:31).  This unforgivable sin is often defined as blasphemous, vehement rejection of Christ, against better knowledge of the truth.  The sin is unforgiveable because the person guilty of it cuts off the work of the Holy Spirit, who alone can change the heart.

So, where does this leave us?  Think of what you usually do in a worship service:  you confess your sins, you receive absolution, and in the Creed you say:  “I believe…in the forgiveness of sins.”  What a gracious God we have.  “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?”  (Micah 7:18).  Let’s rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins and, when we sin, let’s confess them to the Lord, knowing and believing that he has forgiven all our sins through Jesus Christ his Son.