It is not unheard of for people to get together and confess their sins in such a manner as to judge other people. They are using the occasion to accuse the other of sin.

For example, "I want to confess that I have hated you for a number of years because of the way you behave."

This may appear to the unlearned to be what James 5:16 is referring to, but it is not. James tells us to confess our own sins, not those of someone else.

One should say, "I am troubled with a spirit of hatred and would like to confess it as sin."

If your brother offends you, go to him in private and tell him of the offense. If he will not hear you, take the matter to the elders of the church. If he will not hear them, seek the counsel of the elders in order to know how to proceed. But do not attack him in public under the guise of confessing your sins.

If someone asks your forgiveness, being genuinely repentant, forgive him. If you do not, God will not forgive you. If you are unable to forgive, ask God's help. It is extremely important that we do not allow bitterness, hatred, and a spirit of revenge to dwell in us. Such bring about spiritual death.

God has forgiven us much. He expects us to forgive those who sin greatly against us.

Our deeds, words, motives, and imaginations must be brought under the absolute domination of Christ. Bringing our personality and behavior under the lordship of Christ requires experience, prayer, faith, a knowledge of God's Word, and a strong determination to gain victory through Divine grace.

The subjection of the believer's deeds, words, thoughts, and whole personality to the rule of Christ is the forerunner of the Day of the Lord when every creature in the universe willingly and joyfully, or in a spirit of rebellion and terror, will bow in subjection to Christ. All resistance to the rule of the Lord Jesus is sin.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (II Corinthians 10:3-5)

I John 1:9. The Day of Atonement, the sixth of the seven feasts of the Lord, concerns God's provision for the sins of Israel.

Three events that occurred on the Day of Atonement were as follows:

The blood of a young bull and the blood of a goat were sprinkled upon and before the Mercy Seat to make an atonement for the Holy Place, for Aaron and his household, for the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and for all the congregation of Israel, "because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins" (Leviticus 16:14-17).

The sins of the children of Israel were confessed by Aaron and laid on the head of a living goat (Leviticus 16:21).

The scapegoat was removed from the camp, bearing away "all their iniquities to a land not inhabited" (Leviticus 16:22).

To be continued.