As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy; so, he that scandalizes his brother, or the Church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended, who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.
Private confession to God is a Christian duty (1 John 1:8-10). Sins committed against another person or that become a cause of public scandal should be appropriately confessed to the offended person and/or to the church as a whole. We are typically as Protestants not comfortable with the idea of public confession, yet there is much good that may result from humble obedience in this regard (James 5:16). An act of this sort permits reconciliation and restoration and maintains the purity of the church.
Note the emphasis here on reconciliation and restoration. The purpose of church discipline in general, and confession of sin as considered here specifically, is not punitive. The goal is healing. When a sinning Christian in obedience repents and confesses in a godly manner, the church is bound to receive this person back into full fellowship and exercise the grace of God toward him.
Tomorrow: Some thoughts on errors relating to repentance.
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