Do Christians Need to CONFESS Their Sin Pt 2 ( 1 John 1:9)?
05.16.09
Last week we spoke about whether it’s Biblical for Christians to confess their sins, and in particular about James 5:16. This week we’ll look at 1 John 1:9
Firstly note we are NOT propagating a sinful lifestyle. We are NOT encouraging people to just go out and commit hideous deeds of licentiousness. We believe in obeying God and living a holy lifestyle, but these are only the fruit. The root is being established in grace & righteousness, knowing who you are in Christ. So let’s get into this week’s message.
[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].
This verse has to be read in the context of the rest of the book of John – written to a group of believers whose ranks had been infiltrated by teachers of Gnosticism. John seems to be gentle whenever he addresses the Christians, calling them “my little children”. But in other parts of his letter, when he is countering the teachings of the Gnostics, he becomes quite protective of his brothers and sisters in Christ, and his words quite harsh. At the time John wrote this letter, the Gnostics had already left the ranks of the Christians [1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us], but remnants of the Gnostisism teaching were still confusing the Christians that remained.
Gnostics are people who believe that creation is flawed and was created by a flawed creator, a movement out of which the “Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints” or “Mormons” has arisen. They also believe that there is no such thing as sin in the world, and as an UNBELIEVER that you do not have to confess your sins to God to be born again.
Even though the book of 1 – 3 John was written to the church, 1 John 1:9 was NOT a command for people to grovel in sack cloth & ash, instead it is simply a statement to contradict the false teachings of the Gnostics. There were people in John’s church (who had not been born again yet) who were self righteously claiming that they did not need to confess their sins to receive eternal life. They were still confused by the teaching of the Gnostics, even though the Gnostics had already left. John countered this lie and said the following: [1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us].
And then in the next verse he reveals how to be saved: [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]. God will cleanse them from ALL unrighteousness if they will only confess that they need to be forgiven of their sins. If 1 John 1:9 were addressed to the believing Christians (the ones who were already saved), it would then contradict the following verse: [1 John 2:12 Little children, I write to you because you have been forgiven your sins through His name]. Why would John command people to confess their sins if He says a few verses later that they HAVE been forgiven? If confessing our sins was such an important practice in the life of a believer, why did the writer of the biggest part of the New Testament, Paul the apostle, not command us to do it once??
Under the New Covenant, ALL our sins (past, present & future) have been forgiven. When Jesus taught his disciples (who were still under the Old Covenant) the Lord’s prayer, He told them: [Mat 6:12 and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors]. But under the New Covenant our motivation to forgive others is different. We don’t forgive anymore in order for God to forgive us, but now we forgive others because WE HAVE BEEN forgiven. Col 3:13 … even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Countless doctrines have been formulated by the modern day church about confessing our sins to God, all based on this one verse (1 John 1:9). It’s quite amazing if we realize there are no other verses in the entire New Covenant that tells us we should confess our sins to God! It’s even more amazing if we realise that this verse was not even intended for Christians who trust in the forgiveness of God, but for self righteous people! There are millions of people who have turned their back on Jesus & left the church, not because they are evil or sinful people, but because they are sincere people that for years & years have been taught a mixture of Old Covenant law and New Covenant Grace. These people have came to a place where they felt that other Christians and themselves were such hypocrites, that their failures and mistakes were so great, that their discouragement drove them away from Jesus into the wilderness. They gave up on Jesus and His word, although they still love Him in their hearts.
But you may ask, “Why would God not want us to confess our sins to Him? After all, we do make mistakes!” The answer is simple: Because walking around the whole day remembering all the bad things we have done will not bring us closer to God! Jesus already paid the full price so that we could have unbroken fellowship with the Father. This means that when we make a mistake, it does not break our fellowship or right standing with God. Jesus was forsaken by his Father on the cross so that we would never have to experience that! Does this mean that we just go out and live a life of full blown wickedness & depravity? No!! But it definitely means that God wants us to have confidence before Him, and to be more aware of our righteousness and His grace than of our shortcomings & mistakes. [Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water].
How can we have boldness before God if we have to grovel on our knees and plead for the forgiveness of our sins every time we pray? If we can’t have confidence before God, how then can we even dream to stand in front of a blind person and say confidently: “Blind eyes open in the name of Jesus!” We’d always feel that God does not want to use us because we have too much sin in our lives. No amount of crying, confessing, remembering your sins, emotional torment or anything we can do can add to the finished work of the cross, where our sins were forgiven, once and for all.
So when you find yourself conscious of your sins, simply say: “Thank You Jesus for the perfect work of the cross that has removed my sins completely. Thank you Holy Spirit for convicting me of righteousness, not my own, but the righteousness given to me as a gift (2 Cor 5:21) and I praise You that nothing that I do can ever change that or ever separate me from your love!!!” Grace does not mean the denial of occasional mistakes in our lives – that is a dangerous thing to do – rather grace removes the punishment and guilt of that sin (Tony Ide – Freedom Life Fellowship, Perth, Australia). Grace is what makes us worthy!
Rob Rufus (City Church International, Hong Kong) presented the following brilliant argument: Let’s pretend for a moment that Christians DO have to confess their sins to God. Then for the sake of integrity, these people should please be consistent. They should not only confess those sins which they think are the big sins, but also ALL the little sins. Rom 14 says that ANYTHING a Christian does not do out of faith, is sin. [Rom 14:23b …for whatever is not from faith is sin]. This means that we have to monitor every single little thing we do the entire day, and if we find ourselves doing anything without faith (eat, go to work, go to church, drive home, talk to our children, take off our shoes, worrying about anything, etc.) that is sin, and we should stop whatever we are doing at that moment, and confess that we have sinned, because God has now cut Himself off from us, our right standing with Him has been broken and we stand in danger of being thrown into hellfire for sinning.
So in closing, the Bible teaches all unbelievers to confess their sins to God to be born again and come into Christ, but the Bible does not teach New Covenant believing Christians to confess their sins to God. Also see part 1 on this topic at our website dealing with James 5:16.
If this truth about confessing our sins to God is still unclear to you, we encourage you to download the sermon called “Do Christians have to confess their sins to God?” by Rob Rufus from City Church International in Hong Kong. Simply follow the following link (the date of the sermon is 6 June 2008): http://www.citychurchinternational.net/2008.html
1 John 1:9 is not addressed to the Christians, but in an “inclusive” manner addressed to the Gnostics.
how do you explain John 1.john2.19
1 John 2:19 -They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
if John is stating the gnostics had left, how can he still be adressing them.
It’s quite amazing if we realize there are no other verses in the entire new covenant that tells us we should confess our sins to God! …. so the concept expressed in 2tim3.16 is mentioned only once, does that mean it is not valid?
I have this final proof that Christians have to confess their sins because they retain their sin nature that is neve forgiven. sin = your sin nature: sins are the consquences of your being a sinner. You are not a sinner because you sin; you sin because you are a sinner.
now take this simple scriptural challenge: where in the entire NT is anyone ever forgiven of their SIN. Once more, find one verse where anyone is forgiven of their SIN.
next scriptural challenge: Find one verse where anyone is freed from their SINS.
so what is the conclusion: for Christians their sins are forgiven by the blood shed at the cross. We are freed from the power of sin by living the ascended life of Christ when we excercise the power of the Holy Spirit. But we can never live totally in the spirit so when we sin (we all sin, we all fall short of the glory), then we are told exactly what to do … if you confess your sins, =God is faithful and just, He will forgive you your sins and purify you of all unrighteousness so that your fellowship with God via Christ as your advocate via the Holy Spirit is restored.
that’s what is in the gospels ….
Hi Marco
If you believe that God will only forgive your sins from the day you were born up to the time you confess them, and that you have to confess EVERY subsequent sin afterwards to receive forgiveness again and again, then you are in big trouble. Because let’s say you have just confessed your sin, but forgot to confess the one time you looked lustfully at a woman, and you walk out the door and get hit by a truck, that means you are going straight to hell, because you forgot to confess that one sin! No Marco, the Christian life is not lived from confession to confession, it is lived from faith to faith and grace to grace. Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Our forgiveness is not based on our own fluctuating ability to confess and remember every sin we have committed, it is based on the perfect obedience of Jesus on our behalf and receiving forgiveness & righteousness as a gift. The moment you are born again, all your sins past present AND FUTURE are wiped out completely. When do you think your sins were forgiven?? More than 2000 years ago at the cross. But when you get born again, you RECEIVE that forgiveness.
Christians do NOT have a sinful nature anymore, you can see our previous article on this subject here: http://www.newcovenantgrace.com/christians-sinful-nature-indwelling-sin/
Proof from scriptures that Christians are forgiven ALL their sins (and these are only a few, there are many more):
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Rom 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin”
Col 3:13 … even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
1 John 2:12 Little children, I write to you because you have been forgiven your sins through His name.
2 Cor 5:19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…
I can go on and on, but I think you get the picture. If God broke His rod on the back of Jesus, why would He have any punishment left for you? God wants us to be conscious of our righteousness, and not of our mistakes. Going around everyday, trying to remember all the mistakes you have made so that you can confess them, is not the way God meant for His children to walk in, because being conscious of our mistakes robs us of our confidence before God. But Jesus came and offered ONE sacrifice for all people for all time, and by faith in Christ we receive complete forgiveness through the finish work of the cross.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
So this is exactly what 1 John 1:9 tells us – When we admit we are sinners and confess our sins, God wipes away ALL our sins: 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. From that moment onwards we don’t have anymore unrighteousness, and even though our behaviour sometimes does not line up with this, our position of righteousness before the Father does not waiver or ever falter.
What is the definition of sin? Well under the old covenant sin is defined as falling short of the requirements of the law, breaking the law. But then Jesus came and took away the requirements of the law: Col 2:14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Now since there is no more law, we can not break the law anymore. Rom 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
In Grace
Andre van der Merwe
Hi Marco
Yes we have reconsidered this and also heard from various other trustworthy people that 1 John 2:19 implies that the Gnostics had already left. At some point we will revise this message and publish it again. Thank you very much for also bringing this under our attention.
May I just add that 1 John 1:9 still does not imply that Christians have to go soul searching and confess each and every small sin in order to be forgiven. As mentioned in many of our other messages, all the sins past present and future of a Christian were forgiven over 2000 years ago at the cross, and we RECEIVE this forgiveness the day we are born again. If confessing sins were such an important part of the walk of the Christian life, why did the champion apostle of grace, Paul, that wrote half of the New Testament not mention it anywhere? Yes there is a place for confessing sins if a person “feels” that they need to tell God they have messed up, but I can guarantee you that everytime you confess, and you then listen to the Holy Spirit speaking, you will always hear the answer: “You have already been forgiven – I don’t remember your sins anymore.” Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
God wants us to be conscious of our righteousness, and not of our mistakes. Going around everyday, trying to remember all the mistakes you have made so that you can confess them, is not the way God meant for His children to walk in, because being conscious of our mistakes robs us of our confidence before God. But Jesus came and offered ONE sacrifice for all people for all time, and by faith in Christ we receive complete forgiveness through the finish work of the cross.
Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Also see Heb10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. If your conscience has been cleaned of your sins, and if God does not remember them anymore either (v17), why then do YOU still want to bring them up?
So this is exactly what 1 John 1:9 tells us – When we admit we are sinners and confess our sins, God wipes away ALL our sins: 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. From that moment onwards we don’t have anymore unrighteousness, and even though our behaviour sometimes does not line up with this, our position of righteousness before the Father does not waiver or ever falter.
Unfortunately the confessing of sins has been made into such a distorted & ugly thing by certain churches to put people under the fear of man, to control the church and to make people feel guilty so that they can come back next Sunday to try and feel better again.
In Grace
Andre van der Merwe
hi Marco.
Romans 8:1There is therefore now NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
how can i be condemned of something if I’m in Christ Jesus and not in the Law like it is written in Rom 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
now I’m in Christ so how can there be a law if Christ freed me from it!
Rom8:2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath MADE ME FREE from the law of sin and death.
See it says made me (past tense)
so if i was made free from the Law of sin and death
and I’m in Christ then there is no Condemnation.
Rom8:8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Sinners are people who are not in Christ! not in the Spirit but in flesh! That’s because they were not made righteous for Christ doesn’t dwell in me.
Why? Because they didn’t let the Truth set them free from the Law! and still think that they should ask forgiveness to earn righteousness!
you’re saying that every time a believer sins in the flesh is cast out from the presence of the Lord because if God sees them they’ll die! They won’t be able to stand boldly in His presence until they ask for forgiveness..you know that we can’t stand in the presence of God if we have sin in us. so if i forget to ask forgiveness for one of my sins what would happen to me?
Romans8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15For ye have NOT received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
If i believed and received Christ I’ve been adopted! I’m a child of God! not a servant anymore!
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the CHILDREN of God
read these verses please and notice that they’re all in the past tense! all done already.
Romans8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am PERSUADED, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, NOR NOTHING PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME!!! see that!!
Even future things could separate us!
Romans8:39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1Peter1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
A very good friend of mine, Cornel Marais (Charisma Ministries) has written a brilliant message on this topic, shedding a clear light on this often misunderstood and heavily contested matter. May God open the eyes of our understanding to grasp the wonders of His Grace.
Click this link to follow:
http://www.charismaministries.org/?p=288
In Grace
Andre van der Merwe
Hahah! Yes Rita, brilliant. Couldn’t have said it better myself.
I was taught on positional and experiential truth. I believe confusion can result from failing to discriminate between these two concepts. ‘Seated with Christ in heavenly places’ is positional truth. So is righteousness in Christ. These truths concern the eternal reality of how Christ has fully rdeemed us, meanwhile we live on in a mortal body which is vulnerable to government by it’s appetites (‘in the flesh’)rather than being controlled by the Spirit. One perspective is eternal reality. The other is temporal reality, which should reflect eternal reality but does not always do so. There is no contradiction, just two perspectives. We will be fully conformed to our positional status in Christ, but we are not yet. We are to be transformed. While we are being conformed there is contigency for failure.
I enjoy your excitement concerning God’s grace. I believe sometimes God is emphasising one lesson in particular so it soaks in.
AMEN! KNOW THAT THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY PAID THAT PRICE ONCE AND FOR ALL AND AND KNOWING THAT I CAN BOLDLY GO BEFORE THE THRONE GRACE ANYTIME CLEANSED AND FORGIVEN! AND I DONT HAVE TO WALK AROUND ALL DAY TRYING TO BE CONSCIOUS OF MY SINS AND ASK FORGIVENESS 100 TIMES A DAY! NOT HAVEING TO DO THAT ALL THE TIME! HAS REALLY SET ME FREE! KNOW I FOCUS ON JESUS AND THANKING HIM FOR HIS AWESOME GRACE AND WHAT HE HAS DONE AND FINNISHED ON THE CROSS! AND HAVING A CLEAR CONSCIOUS ALLOWS ME SERVE THE LORD FREELY! AND BE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF GRATEFULNESS FOR WHAT JESUS HAS DONE ON THE CROSS!AND I CAN BOLDLY GOING BEFORE THE THORNE OF GRACE! BECAUSE THE PRICE WAS PAID FOR ALL MY SINS PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE! AND WHEN I DO SOMETHING WRONG OR SIN! I JUST TELL GOD IM SORRY! PLEASE HELP TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND OBEY YOUR WORD AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT PRICE YOU PAID TO WASH ALL MY SINS AWAY!
JOSEPH ISAAC
Hi Andre,
You spoke with honesty about the gospel. 100% agree. Yet there are still so many false preacher out there saying that we ned to confess our sin and keep the 10 commandments and tithing and you can loose your salvation etc etc…… keep it up man.
SO WONDERFUL to see that many are free in His grace which covered all of our sin..isn’t it interesting that the one, the Apostle Paul… that was called to take the gospel to the gentiles, that is ALL of us who are not Jews, we never had or knew the law and were never intended to know the law, it is amazing that not one time did the Apostle Paul teach that we had to practice confessing our sins daily or any time did he teach it …don’t you think that the one that Christ knocked to the ground and blinded that day on the road, that he would have instructed Paul to teach the confession of sin..hmmm isn’t it amazing how much influence one false doctrine can have on the entire church…we are FREE from sin when we are Born Again…and ask yourself this..if you are truly IN CHRIST ..do you want to commit sin? Is your heart bent toward sin if you Love the Lord? my my such pain I have seen and at one time long ago as a new christian , I too endured because of the terrible practice of daily confession and weeping and sorrow for my sin…which is all covered by that precious blood..once and for all. Preach it folks, we are free from this law of sin in our flesh… God does not look at sin in HIS OWN..he sees CHRIST in us!!!
Hi, God Bless you, and thank you, for this comforting Godly website of the Lord undying loving grace! Sincerely, Afeni!
Marco, I have heard your arguement over and over, how sad to still struggle in that bondage, IF you think that by CONFESSING your sin every day, that is how you get forgiveness, then in total essence you are saying that the cross is not needed for the forgiveness of sin…that all you need to do is confess your sins and you will be forgiven, very mixed theory you have there, forgiveness..complete and total washing of your sin comes when you come to Christ and accept him as your savior,otherwise you will have to confess every sin of ommission, every sin unintentional, every sin of what you should have done and didn’t..and on and on and on..that is the law and you are set free in Christ!!Get on with maturing in Christ, as paul said, get past the washings and cleansings and repentance and get on with growin gup in Christ..walk as the NEW creation you are..ALL THINGS have passed away..behold ALL things..get it?? are NEW!!!!
Hi Andrew,
how would you interpret 1. John 5,16?
This is so confusing sometimes. When I take Romans 4,8, Hebr 10,10 for granted why do other
writers come up with this? They do not seem to fit together.
How can sins lead to death when I am a never dying reborn spirit – born of gods sperm which never dies.
Why hand someone over to satan for bodily destruction so that his spirit maybe saved – implies that the spirit has the oppurtunity to be lost.
Man I feel like throwing the towel, seems like I was better of when I did not believe in total forgiveness and radical grace.
But somehow I can not go back, drives me crazy.
Hi Tobi,
Maybe it would clarify things if you knew that the word “brother” in the greek (adelphon) used in 1. John 5-16 refers to a sibling or family member – not a believer.
So, in reality, John is referring to a family member who is not a believer – the only sin that is “unto death” is the one of not believing in Jesus. – as defined by Jesus in John 16:10.
Again, New Covenant verses need to be examined in the light of other NT scripture verses dealing with Grace – always bearing in mind that Sin has already been dealt with once and for all – if Jesus was made Sin for us – and then when He died, then in effect so did Sin die as far as its impact on a believer’s life – because we died with Christ, so too has our old nature died with Him – so that we might be made (passive tense – does not require any effort on our part) the righteousness of God by faith.
Hope this helps.
Tobi, you are trying to apply rules and forms to your salvation, GRACE is just exactly that, you came to a believeing faith in Christ and from then on you are HIS..no loss of salvation is possible…and cofession of sin is done, you confessed you were a sinner, you were washed in His blood and the Father sees HIM in your place, you are Hidden in Christ, now you move on and live in your faith. Keep watch of the legalisms people try to put on you..seek the Lord every day, talk to Him..if you love someone you like to speak to them and be near them, that is what we do when we love..so don’t look at all of these ism’s…you are BORN AGAIN…and you are FREE in Christ…your sins..all before now and ahead of you are under the blood of the cross, the confession myth is for those who do not believe the CROSS was enoguh to do and finish the job…but confession cannot get you forgiveness, it just keeps your sins in you r face all the time..and that is not the life of a NEW CREATION..walk in faith and He will make you new, day by day..through out mistakes and in your victorys, both he is working to make you new in HIMSELF.You are free indeed, of all the garbage of legaistic efforts…go forward now and trust that GOD..CHRIST DID IT ALL…as he said, we cannot add anyhting to the Cross and its complete work!!!! PRAISE HIM and stop listening tothose who would confuse you with the law of religious stuffs..as jesus said BEWARE of the LEAVEN of the PHARISEES< in other words, they teach you that you have to DO this or that to be saved…NOPE JESUS DID IT ALL DONE PERIOD AMEN!!!
I thought salvation was entered upon the one condition of faith in Christ. Even in the Gospel of John faith is the only thing required for one to receive forgiveness of sins. So then, how is it that the confessions of sin(s) is all of a sudden required in 1 John for salvation? I get what you are saying about confession but I wonder if you are getting the thing about salvation right. Help me out and explain yourself in this area a little more clearly. Thank you.
Hi Larry
A friend of mine, Paul Ellis, wrote an excellent article on this subject at his website – you can read it here:
http://escapetoreality.org/2010/12/20/what-keeps-christians-weak-and-unproductive/
Simply, you admit you are a sinner, that you need Christ to save you and that you BELIEVE in Him, that he is the one who died for your sins and he will forgive you of all your sin..one time…done…HE HAS SAVED YOU!!! He died for all the sin of mankind, he bore all of it on his body on the cross, we will never know the depth of his suffering, once, for all… the perfect sacrifice, remember this JESUS was GOD IN THE FLESH..the WORD MADE FLESH..he sacrificed himself for us becasue there was no other way…no one was perfect enough to absorb all the punishment and still raise from the dead!!! You are now cleansed, made a new creation and eternal life is yours, you see the church has been lead astray by the enemy concerning sin and the law, but we do not need nor do we live by the law, we are saved by grace..this is unmerited favor, no one ever deserves it, but HE knew we could not ever fulfill the law, so he did and passed his life to us who believe, stop trying to analyze and mix theology and all of that..TRUST HIM..he is able to set you free and him alone.
I am in total agreement with Andre van der Merwe on the subject of not needing to confess our sins to God once you have accepted his forgiveness and made righteous through his sacrifice.
Think of it this way. Why did Jesus go to the cross and rise again 2,000 years ago. Did he not take on the sin of the entire world? Was his sacrifice insufficient? Is there more that we must do to make his sacrifice for sin cover more than it has. Are we beyond the atoning work of Christ? Does our daily sins continue to separate us and destroy our fellowship with the Father? Did his life’s blood not do what he said it would and “clense us from all unrighteousness”?
If this is your belief then of all men you must be most miserable. I live in the gospel of grace and freedom. Not freedom to sin but freedom from sin. God’s grace is sufficient to cover all my sins and whether you believe it or not is sufficiet to cover all of yours as well. Come out of the bondage of sin and live in the freedom from sin and guilt that only come from the knowledge of knowing him.
Bob S
What about confessing my sins, not in order to be forgiven, since I am already, but because I am genuinely sorry that I acted in a way that did not glorify my Father. I understand that the Greek word translated to forgive means to “say the same thing as”. So when the believer confesses his sin, he simply agrees with God’s Word that a certain act is wrong and has no place in his life and that Christ has provided both pardon and power to overcome it.
Because I am forgiven already, I can agree with God without getting under condemnation and claim victory through the cross over the power of sin. In this way, I can grow in practical holiness, while enjoying freedom from condemnation and perfect acceptance at all time.
I find that while confessing our sins will not change God’s attitude toward us, it can change our attitude toward sin.
DJ, I guess it’s different strokes for different folks. What has worked for me is to simply focus on Jesus, when I turn to Him I automatically turn away from the lusts of the flesh. It has become more and more effortless for me this way.
Well my friend DJ, I am afraid you are incorrect in your idea, the more you look for,look at and recognize sin the more of a hold it will have on you…don’t you understand that you are NOT a sinner in God’s sight anymore, you are the one scripture speaks of ..BLESSED is the one who’s sin is NOT imputed to him,” you do not sin in God’s sight, JESUS PAID FOR EVRY SIN EVER COMMITED and the payment is done, finished, complete, by you looking at sin in yourself you are giving the law, which EMPOWERS sin to have strenght over you..the bible tells us that THE LAW IS THE STRENGTH OF SIN,and we are not under the LAW, we are under GRACE!!!!! you are cleansed, made righteous forever when you are saved and the HOLY SPIRIT comes to live inside, do you think that if you were not made HOLY that he, the HOLY SPIRIT could be in there, let alone forever scripture tells us, STOP thinking, worrying, talking an d looking for sin and you will become victorious, when you fail..look at the cross and the FINISHED punishment GOD put on his son for you..know it is now no condemnation so why would you even wish to acknowledge it, JESUS told the woman taken in adultry, he did not condemn her, before he said go and sin no more because he set her free from condemnation first, if you look for sin you are asking for the law to beat you down over and over…don’t you think God has the power to give you victory???..are you really just doubting that the cross FINISHED the issue of sin..you should be sure you are truly living by faith…sin is anything that falls short of GOD”S perfection so how much can you really do to feel clean..you can’t..only by believeing that Jeusus took care of it all and walk in his POWER AND you won’t look for sin anymore.TAKE A BREAK for goodness sake…look inside at what you believe! You are totally made a NEW CREATION and your flesh will always want its way but you have been given a new spirit and a new eternal life..to totally overcome!!!It will fall away in time as you grow in power by believeing what has already been accomplished, it is an offense to bring up something to GOD that he shed his son’t blood to wipe away..as far as the east is from the west..NO SIR HE does not look at you and see your sin…get that and you will find new power and victory..stay out of churches that teach about the law and sin, they will kill your victory over sin!!LAW IS CARNAL but GRACE IS POWER AND ETERNAL TRUTH because Jesus IS the very essence of GRACE!! HALLELUJAH!!!
Diana,
I am completely free from condemnation because I know that my sins are completely forgiven. I do not spend my time looking for sins to confess, but are you suggesting that if I am practicing adultery, for example, that because I am already forgiven it would be unbiblical and not helpful to me in gaining victory over the practice to acknowledge that adultery is a sin, that Christ died to give me both pardon and power over it, and therefore I can claim my victory in Jesus’ name. While God has changed His view of me, he has not changed his view of sin. He still hates it. Shouldnt I declare my condemnation of adultery, which God still condemns, while rejoicing in the gift of no condemnation given to me?
It seems to me that when I do so I am agreeing with God both in his attitude toward me and toward sin–and that is what “confession” is.
Jesus brought us “grace and truth”. He offers us grace first, and once we receive it, we are free to obey the truth. So to the woman in adultery, he first offered her unconditional pardon, but he also said to her go and sin (commit adultery) no more. His offer of grace did not contradict His “confessing” or acknowledging the sin of adultery that was to be overcome by His power which grace had imparted to her.
I find that acknowledging a sin that I have been forgiven of, not dwelling on it, helps me to love even more because He who is forgiven much loves much.
DJ
I am truly sorry that you believe that God is still dealing with sin at all..don’t you know it was dealt with on the cross..and if you don’t think that Christ blood was the ultimate finished work of bearing and punishment for ALL…the world’s sin you have been sitting under very wrong teaching, when he returns it will not be to deal with sin..it will be to deal with unbelief…punishment will be dealt out to all nations who rejected CHRIST and his gift of righteousness by believeing on him…if one thinks that they would be able to live in adultry as a true believer who UNDERSTANDS and relys on the power of grace to free man from sin..then they don’t even know what that GRACE has done for them…that is the very power to overcome sin..NOW the law will keep you in bondage by..LOOKING at and ACKNOWLEDGING SIn in ones life and as a christian it is giving it the power to hold on..victory is gained by looking at the cross which cleansed you from all sin and continues to do so..go ahead and play with the sin teaching all you want, you have been told that only by his GRACE are you saved..and your mind after sin will keep you in bondage to it..so confess away my friend..hope it works for you..amazing that never once did PAUL, the one who was called to preach the gospel to the GENTILES never once mentions or instructs us to confess sin..he does the very opposite..and if you understand the jewish practice (James, Peter and John were called to prach to the JEWS) in and under the weight of the law..which they never could keep, they are the ones who practiced confessing sin..so I guess you want to mix the new wine in the old wine skins..GET FREE from that mindset..look at the cross when you fail..and the sin that easily besets you will lose its power as you walk in that by faith…that is the power of salvation at work..the FINISHED work, the final and total punishment for all sin..it was done on that cross 2000 years ago…believe it and you will be set free.
Well all I can say to someone so determined to look at your SIN instead of looking steadfastly at Christ, and HIS FINISHED work for YOU on the cross..is by all means, confess..it is not one time taught by either PAUL or CHRIST himself..but you seem to need that little bit of LAW in your life, sadly it will keep you from growing in the truth..when we believe wrongly we never can get the true understanding of the power of GODS GRACE. sincerely Diana