9月28日
标 题：认罪
经 节：所以你们要彼此认罪，互相代求，使你们可以得医治。义人祈祷所发的力量是大有功效的。（雅各书五章16节）
认罪是神提供给我们的方法，为要除去阻碍我们与神、与人创建关系的障碍物。认罪不只是给予那些愿意承认过错的人，认罪是颁发给每个基督徒的命令。雅各建议，当我们犯罪时，不仅要向神认罪，也要向基督徒伙伴认罪。当我们愿意为得罪人的行为公开致歉时，会得到莫大的自由。
倘若认罪不是由悔改中生成，它仅仅是坦白，不是真正的认罪。具体地承认你的罪，且不东躲西藏，是非常重要的。祷告“主啊！饶恕我的罪”是一回事，而痛心疾首、具体地指出自己的罪，更是不同。认罪应该尽可能对着那些你所伤害的人。你不是向其他人认罪，而是向那些你伤害的人认罪。认罪不是软弱的记号，是你拒绝让罪存在自己生命的明证。
值得注意的是，雅各把认罪与祷告联结在一起。如果生命中有未认的罪，你的祷告会被阻挡。当雅各提到：“义人祈祷所发的力量是大有功效的”，他所说的应许是在有认罪行动为前提之下。如果你希望拥有大有能力的祷告生活，一定要常常认罪。只有在你与神、与人之间的关系未受阻碍时，祷告才有功效。骄傲会拦阻你向人承认自己心里的罪恶。渴望讨神喜悦的心会驱使你认罪，使你摆脱罪恶沉重的压制。
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.
