James 5:16

 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16, KJV)

UPDATE:  No, I am not observing Lent.  I just realized that I am posting this on "Ash Wednesday".  And No, "Mardi Gras" was not on my mind.

Lately, I've been thinking about this concept, about confessing your sins to a fellow believer (and yes, I may have had some Matthew 5:28-ish issues last night, maybe more accurately, not following I Corinthians 6:18).  Some say we are to only confess to God.  They say that we are not to seek "absolution" for our sins.  They say that the following Scripture is enough:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, KJV)

I wonder:  What do I do?  I'm not Catholic, Catholicism is full of heresy.  

At the very least, I can confess to God.  Nowhere in the following passages is an additional party needed to receive forgiveness:

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (Psalms 32:5, KJV)

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, KJV)

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14, KJV)

So where does James 5:16 fit in?  What if there is no believer for you to confess your sins to?

Honestly, I don't know.

In the name of potential obedience to James 5:16, I address this post to any who are true believers, those are among the "one to another".

Oh, and I've also implemented Matthew 5:29 concerning last night's issues.  For years, I've been wrestling with doctrine concerning masturbation, from Darwin Fish of A True Church (he says that masturbation in and of itself is not sinful, I agree).  If I have sinned in this matter, it is not Mr. Fish's fault, I may have simply misread his stuff.  So what is the implementation?  Cutting off masturbation entirely.  This will solve so many problems, especially the following:

“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23, KJV)