Next we have the words “our sins.” “Sins” is the accusative plural form of the noun “hamartias,” which refers to personal sins in all three categories (mental, verbal, and overt). Obviously, if you are going to admit and acknowledge a sin to God, you will have to know what that sin is. There will be sins you commit while you are growing spiritually of which you are not even aware. However, you are still responsible for these sins (because they come from your own volition), so God has made a provision to deal with these as well.

“Our” is the possessive genitive plural adjective “hemon,” and is correctly translated. Please note, it does not say, “Someone else’s sins”! We are not to stick our nose into the lives of others. It is not our responsibility to straighten out anyone else. Each individual believer’s lifestyle is strictly a matter between him and God. God will deal with each believer as an individual. If one of His children is sinning or failing in any way, it is God’s business; it is not yours or mine.

 

ROM 14:4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

 

ROM 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.

 

                Your job is to represent yourself before the Lord and, as a believer priest, you do not represent anyone but yourself. Therefore, you are only to acknowledge, admit, and cite your own sins and not the sins and failures of someone else. There is to be no maligning, gossiping, or judging. “Gossip” means to spread untrue rumors about others, and “maligning” means to speak evil and discredit someone’s character with accusations that are true, but both are just as wrong.