1 John 5:
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 

HIS witness, HIS Works, HIS Spirit all belonging to HIM.  We always seem to try to take HIS credit and not debit our many failures.

John 7:
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

CHRIST did speak of the Spirit, but the comforter is here to bring us in remembrance and teach us all things.

John 20:
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Is this an attempt to recreate Rome?  Should they have not confess their sins to CHRIST and not man?