Except Christ wanted a different way.
… So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained." John 20-21:23
Here, Christ established the Sacrament of Confession. Note, this is the only other place in Scripture where God breathed on Man. A very significant event. And you wouldn't know what sin to forgive or retain unless you heard it!
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
and this....
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
No priest died for me and nobody needs to go through one to get to God.
Matthew 6:14-15 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.
15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.
The above came along WAY before the church's supposed 'confession' proof text.