9月28日         

標　　題：認罪

經　　節：所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代求，使你們可以得醫治。義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的。（雅各書五章16節）

認罪是神提供給我們的方法，為要除去阻礙我們與神、與人創建關係的障礙物。認罪不只是給予那些願意承認過錯的人，認罪是頒發給每個基督徒的命令。雅各建議，當我們犯罪時，不僅要向神認罪，也要向基督徒夥伴認罪。當我們願意為得罪人的行為公開致歉時，會得到莫大的自由。

倘若認罪不是由悔改中生成，它僅僅是坦白，不是真正的認罪。具體地承認你的罪，且不東躲西藏，是非常重要的。禱告「主啊！饒恕我的罪」是一回事，而痛心疾首、具體地指出自己的罪，更是不同。認罪應該盡可能對著那些你所傷害的人。你不是向其他人認罪，而是向那些你傷害的人認罪。認罪不是軟弱的記號，是你拒絕讓罪存在自己生命的明證。

值得注意的是，雅各把認罪與禱告聯結在一起。如果生命中有未認的罪，你的禱告會被阻擋。當雅各提到：「義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的」，他所說的應許是在有認罪行動為前提之下。如果你希望擁有大有能力的禱告生活，一定要常常認罪。只有在你與神、與人之間的關係未受阻礙時，禱告才有功效。驕傲會攔阻你向人承認自己心裡的罪惡。渴望討神喜悅的心會驅使你認罪，使你擺脫罪惡沉重的壓制。

Confession

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)

Confession is God’s provision to clear obstacles that hinder our relationships with God and with others. Confession is not just for those who don’t mind admitting their faults. Confession is a command, given to every Christian. James advised that when we sin, it is important for us to confess not only to God, but also to our fellow Christians. There is a tremendous freedom that comes as we openly acknowledge the sinfulness of our actions to others.

If confession does not come out of repentance, it is merely admission, and not true confession. It is important to confess your sins specifically and not hide behind generalities. It is one thing to pray, “O Lord, forgive my sin.” It’s quite another to identify specifically in painful honesty. Whenever possible, confession ought to be made directly to those whom your sin has hurt. You are not to confess the sins of others but only your offenses. Confession is not a sign of weakness; it is evidence of your refusal to allow sin to remain in your life.

Significantly, James linked confession with prayer. Your prayers will be hindered if you hold on to unconfessed sin. When James promised that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,” he did so in the context of confession. If you wish to have a powerful prayer life, you must regularly confess your sin. Only when there are no obstacles separating you from God and others will your prayers be effective. Pride will discourage you from admitting to others the sinfulness of your heart. A desire to please God will compel you to confess your sin and rid yourself of its oppressive burden.