Kindred,
The purpose of confession of sin is to identify and admit that there is a problem.
The purpose of repentance is to have sincerity remorse in order to exorcise the sinful behaviors that stem from the sin(s).
Even if the sinner was able to totally remove the root cause of the sin in self and the bad behaviors that stem from sin, the sinner is still in deficit of any good or even neutral character attributes.
Only by atoning can the sinner fully understand the wrong(s), exorcise completely the sinful behaviors and practices and have positive or neutral character attributes; become good or a better person.
Without atonement the sinner cannot make up for past wrongs, prevent future mistakes from the sin and be able receive the possibilty of forgiveness or salvation.
