All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal. (1Jo 5:17 RSV)It takes two steps for confession.
(1) Forgiveness:
To the eleven, IHS said:
"Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Joh 20:22-23 RSV)(2)Now how could they know WHAT to forgive, unless they were told? Hence, confession.
I entirely get that this is not a dispositive or conclusive argument. My goal was to answer the question about verses. An argument CAN be made.
Further, what irritates me abiout this article is the ommission of the word "ordinarily." Catholic teachers acknowledge that baptism and "reconciliation" are not absolutely necessary. God can save whom he pleases. He is not restricted to the sacraments he gave us. "He is not a tame Lion."
But, personally, I would say the royal road is recourse to these sacraments.
16If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
this is speaking of sin that leads to earthly death! not eternal death. The other point of this is that if they have died, it is too late to pray for them!