Whatever they are, if they are faults in such a sense as to bring us into legal bondage to sin, they doubtless come within the scope of the Apostle's meaning. All such things as grieve the Spirit of God, and hinder our growth in grace. To whom this confession is to be made. To those especially who have been injured by our faults. That we are under obligation to confess to them, and make what reparation is in our power, is too plain to need comment.
Public sins are to be confessed to the public.
By this I mean, that if sins have been injurious to the public, to the Church, or to the world, or to both, the confession should be as public as the injury. But especially does this text require confession to our praying friends. Hence it is plain, that the Apostle designed to direct persons to confess their faults especially to those who offer effectual fervent prayer. The design and use of confessing faults one to another. To make known to Christian friends our real circumstances and wants, so as to enlist their sympathies and enable them to pray for us intelligently, and present our case before the Lord as it is.