The Bible speaks of continuous repentance in progressive sanctification. Repentance ought to be a repetitive action by God's Spirit and Word in our new changed hearts. We ought to become aware of our sin through the preaching of God's Word and the spiritual awareness of God's Spirit. We ought to confess our sins to God for forgiveness and to each other for spiritual healing. No one has the divine authority to forgive sin except the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We ought to clearly confess and acknowledge and forsake our sins to God through His Son's Cross under the influence of God's Spirit.
Confession in the early church was before a congregation. It included public confession. Sin was seen as something that damaged the unity of the body of Christ. People fasted and prayed and confessed. People were stopped from receiving the Lord's Supper. There needed to be evidence of a changed heart. The Bible says that the Ephesian Christians openly confessed their sins. There was clear evidence of a changed heart. They were not considered about embarrassment but a changed heart. The Bible says in James 5:16 to confess one's sins to another to be healed. This verse has been badly abused by the Orthodox and Roman Catholic leadership where they claim to have the spiritual power of absolution. No mere man has the spiritual authority or power to forgive sin but God alone.
Sinners ought to disclose their wicked practices to the believing public for healing. That is, the local church should pray for a changed heart to God but should not damn the confessing sinner to hell. Some in the Book of Acts were engaged in occultic practices. We see non-Christians involved in it today. Like the new Christians in the Book of Acts they should discard their secret magic practices. Confession resulted in a desire not to continue with their sins. Repentance should not only be a statement like "Forgive me Lord" but a fervent desire to lead a life of righteousness. If we fail, we up to get right back up again and repent unto obedience. To die to sin in a practical way in daily life through the mortification of the sinful flesh by yielding to repentance unto life. We ought to render our sinful natures useless and seek to live to Jesus Christ.
I am founder or chairman of Lord of Glory Ministries. I have provided my materials as a few "fishes and loaves" to attempt to exalt the Holy Trinity alone and debase the idolatry of man. I hope and pray to provide sound and free online books (although they are not cheap!) and Reformed sermons related to biblical apologetics and theology or regular Reformed "blog posts".
