Why do we need to confess our sins if we are saved by grace?

We have a dual nature:
1. Our Spirit, which has been cleansed, is sanctified and is pure as snow. Our spirit exists in our temple. This is where the Holy Spirit dwells. You can think of it as a separate area likened to the Holy Of Holies in the OLD physical Temple where God dwelled before Christ. Actually the Old Temple is sort of a diagram of man and you can see the symbolism of all that took place as it relates to our Jesus, man, sin, etc. This area had a curtain/ veil separating it from the outside where the altar, lampstands, table of showbread, laver, then the outer court. This area is where sacrifices were made, prayers for the sins, washing, teaching, etc. That curtain separated God from any sin that was outside. That section is likened to our flesh and the rituals performed for the atonement of sins that Christ fulfilled for us.
2. Our flesh is the other part of us where sin dwells. It is more specific ally our soul: mind, will, emotions, our invisible self. This part of us must be sanctified on a daily based until you die. It actually wars with the spirit and struggles with sin, our old self, habits that we backside into, lusting after the flesh - we still do and when we do we need to catch ourselves, repent and ask for forgiveness. As we grow in spiritual maturity (the Holy Spirit does this work), we learn to hate sin, our old ways, practice our faith, cooperating with Him and this transformation results in fruit in our lives. This is dying to yourself, your old self. In essence we died on the cross with Jesus - transported back in time to get perspective, but of course, the spiritual dimension is not confines to time.
Paul struggled with sin, so do the rest of us but it lessens and becomes easier to go His way. When we die, our spirit goes to be with the Lord and the freshly part of us is separated from our spirit. (Read the scripture
about the Word being a double-edge sword able to separate soul and spirit.)

ICONO'CLAST said:

Sure we do 1jn1 prov28:13

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If you understood these scriptures you wouldn't say this.

1 John 1 was written to non-Christians. 1 John 1:3 says "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." Obviously the recipients do not have fellowship with John's group, who believe in God and Jesus, i.e., they aren't Christians.

Proverbs -- all of it -- was written to people living under the Old Covenant, not to Christians. Even though the principle is true it is not a requirement.

Ronald said:

We have a dual nature:
1. Our Spirit, which has been cleansed, is sanctified and is pure as snow. Our spirit exists in our temple. This is where the Holy Spirit dwells. You can think of it as a separate area likened to the Holy Of Holies in the OLD physical Temple where God dwelled before Christ. Actually the Old Temple is sort of a diagram of man and you can see the symbolism of all that took place as it relates to our Jesus, man, sin, etc. This area had a curtain/ veil separating it from the outside where the altar, lampstands, table of showbread, laver, then the outer court. This area is where sacrifices were made, prayers for the sins, washing, teaching, etc. That curtain separated God from any sin that was outside. That section is likened to our flesh and the rituals performed for the atonement of sins that Christ fulfilled for us.
2. Our flesh is the other part of us where sin dwells. It is more specific ally our soul: mind, will, emotions, our invisible self. This part of us must be sanctified on a daily based until you die. It actually wars with the spirit and struggles with sin, our old self, habits that we backside into, lusting after the flesh - we still do and when we do we need to catch ourselves, repent and ask for forgiveness. As we grow in spiritual maturity (the Holy Spirit does this work), we learn to hate sin, our old ways, practice our faith, cooperating with Him and this transformation results in fruit in our lives. This is dying to yourself, your old self. In essence we died on the cross with Jesus - transported back in time to get perspective, but of course, the spiritual dimension is not confines to time.
Paul struggled with sin, so do the rest of us but it lessens and becomes easier to go His way. When we die, our spirit goes to be with the Lord and the freshly part of us is separated from our spirit. (Read the scripture
about the Word being a double-edge sword able to separate soul and spirit.)

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While I basically agree with your post, we have no "need to catch ourselves, repent and ask for forgiveness." Why would we need to ask for forgiveness when all our sins -- all sin -- has already been forgiven? That's what the cross accomplished. Or, to put it another way, which sins haven't been forgiven?

pescador said:

While I basically agree with your post, we have no "need to catch ourselves, repent and ask for forgiveness." Why would we need to ask for forgiveness when all our sins -- all sin -- has already been forgiven? That's what the cross accomplished. Or, to put it another way, which sins haven't been forgiven?

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I had all the scriptures written out for you but my computer froze and they were lost. Sorry, don't feel like doing that again so here they are: 1 John 1:7-9; 1 John 5:16; Matthew 18:15-17; James 5:16 and Romans 7:14-24.
These scriptures are messages to Christians, not just unbelievers. In Romans, Paul describes our dual nature and the sin that dwells in the members of our flesh. These scriptures tell us to confess our sins to one another, forgive one another and that if we do sin, we have an advocate who will cleanses us (an ongoing cleansing). Again, spiritually we are cleansed, but still must die to ourselves on a daily basis. Past, present and future sins have been forgiven and our spirit is pure, but our flesh still contains sin.
If a brother sins against us, it has a consequence and causes us pain and suffering. Don't you think that he should confess that he is sorry to you and to God? He already knows but we need to acknowledge our sorrow and forgiveness. This is abiding in Him and part of spiritual growth. This is part of having healthy relationships with man and God - acknowledging our wrongs and asking for forgiveness and forgiving others. Otherwise, we are in denial that we sin and deceive ourselves. We might think, "I've been cleansed already, therefore I don't sin, I didn't do anything wrong and therefore am not sorry." On the other end, if someone sins against you, you may judge them as not being a Christian (since you think Christians can't sin).
It is not sin unto death for Christians, it's just about forgiveness and healing. Where non-believers are concerned, it is sin unto death. The wages of sin is death.
A pastor once said, "If you feel guilty, that's because you are guilty." So, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and we feel guilty when we do something wrong. We need to respond to that in a humble way, say we are sorry to both man and God and not do it anymore. Gradually God sanctifies (separates) you from these old ways. Or do you think you became perfect in a moment? Again, spiritually, yes, but not entirely. We still live in the world and we still are tempted by fleshy desires.

Ronald said:

So, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin

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Where does it say the Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin?

Doug Melven said:

Where does it say the Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin?

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WE STILL SIN! How do we know we sin? We look at the Law. We are saved by Grace through Faith but this does not nullify the Law. We can't be saved by the Law, but it is holy and it is still there. If you steal, murder, covet, bear false witness against your neighbor, dishonor God in any way, you sin just like any unbeliever -- again, it is not sin unto death for the believer.
It is by God's Law that we are convicted. The Law is spiritual and the Holy Spirit guides us, counsels us, corrects us and rebukes us when we go off the path.
"And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment." John 16:8
I have given ample scriptures in my last post that identify SIN THAT DWELLS IN OUR FLESH. We are still living in the world, we are not or the world, but our flesh is weak and we fail at times. These are the times we need counsel and help. These are the times we need to come to God and say we are sorry, help me stop doing these things ...

Jesus gave us two commandments and every law falls under those commandments. If in any way you don't love your neighbor as yourself or love God with all your heart, mind and strength do you think you are sinning? Salvation doesn't come by keeping the Law, Jesus did that for us but it doesn't mean we all of a sudden become Christians and live perfect lives.
The Holy Spirit counsels us, He's our helper. So why would you need a counselor if you are doing everything righteously? Don't deceive yourself, you aren't perfect.

Ronald said:

Jesus gave us two commandments and every law falls under those commandments. If in any way you don't love your neighbor as yourself or love God with all your heart, mind and strength do you think you are sinning?

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Of course if I break those 2 laws I have sinned. I probably break one of those 2 laws everyday.
But, the last clause of the New Covenant says "I will be merciful to there unrighteousness and there sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more".
Now if He promised He wouldn't remember it, how could He convict me of it?
Let's think this Holy Spirit conviction of sin doctrine through.
If you had a person who was with you all of the time, 24/7/365, and every time you sinned this person said to you, "I am not telling you this to condemn you, but because I love you, but you sinned again and this is the law you broke".
How long before you would want that person to go away?
The law does convict us John 5:45
But, it works with our conscience. See what convicted the Pharisees in John 8.

pescador said:

If you understood these scriptures you wouldn't say this.

1 John 1 was written to non-Christians. 1 John 1:3 says "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." Obviously the recipients do not have fellowship with John's group, who believe in God and Jesus, i.e., they aren't Christians.

Proverbs -- all of it -- was written to people living under the Old Covenant, not to Christians. Even though the principle is true it is not a requirement.

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Sorry....all scripture is given for all believers regardless of who it was addressed to.
Proverbs was not part of the ceremonial or judicial law. Your point is pointless.
1st John is written to believers who the apostles are warning away from Gnostic heretics.

ICONO'CLAST said:

Sorry....all scripture is given for all believers regardless of who it was addressed to.

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This is not true.
Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Jesus had just healed this man.
So, if we get healed of something should we offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded?
There are lots of Levitical laws regarding animal sacrifice.
In Genesis, when they wanted to find a wife, they were required to look among there own family.
Abraham had his servant go back to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac among Nahor's family.
God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac.

These are all commands from God, should we follow them?

Doug Melven said:

This is not true.
Matthew 8:4
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Jesus had just healed this man.
So, if we get healed of something should we offer the sacrifice that Moses commanded?
There are lots of Levitical laws regarding animal sacrifice.
In Genesis, when they wanted to find a wife, they were required to look among there own family.
Abraham had his servant go back to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac among Nahor's family.
God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac.

These are all commands from God, should we follow them?

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We are not under the old testament theocratic state of National Israel.
However all those verses you listed are given by God and are now the word of God written.
They are written to reveal various aspects of God's self revelation of His Holy person and work.so they are all for us.

ICONO'CLAST said:

They are written to reveal various aspects of God's self revelation of His Holy person and work.so they are all for us.

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If a verse is for us that means we should have to keep it.
That is why not all Scripture is for every person.
I may see value in a verse that was not for me, that does not mean I should take that message to heart.

Doug Melven said:

If a verse is for us that means we should have to keep it.
That is why not all Scripture is for every person.
I may see value in a verse that was not for me, that does not mean I should take that message to heart.

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Doug all the word of God is written for all believers. Now if something is specifically spoken to someone we do not have to specifically obey what was given to them in Scripture ,what was specifically spoken to an individual at that time . However you don't want to be put in the situation where you are explaining away verses that we are to obey.

ICONO'CLAST said:

However you don't want to be put in the situation where you are explaining away verses that we are to obey.

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No, I would not want to do that. I think you and I are in agreement on this, we are just saying it in different ways.
For me some good rules of Bible study are to:
See who it was written to
See who was speaking.
What goes before the passage in question and what comes after.
Compare any verses that have a similar subject.

ihavefoundgod951 said:

Do we have to confess our sins? Or is the debt the lord payed on the cross paid in full past present and future?

If we are under grace and not the old covenant law (mosaic law) as some advacate, why do we need to confess sin?

1 John 1:9 ESV / 106 helpful votes
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 ESV / 99 helpful votes
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV / 50 helpful votes
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Psalm 32:5 ESV / 41 helpful votes
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

1 John 2:1 ESV / 30 helpful votes
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

John 20:23 ESV / 27 helpful votes
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

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Knowledge of sins comes from law (Romans 3:20). We are dead to the law (Rom 7:4). So we cannot claim to know sin. Then how can we claim to confess sins?

HebrewVaquero said:

Why?
Because we are not saved by grace in the traditional understanding of that verse.

Grace gives us the opportunity to be saved, without grace we could never be saved because we would of never had the opportunity.

Repentance and obedience needs to be practiced for sanctification by which we take a hold of this great opportunity.
Just going through the motions won't cut it, it has to be from the heart.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesied a New Covenant where God's instructions are in our heart

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I beg to differ! We are saved by Grace! Before you start to judge, I will explain. A sinner cannot merit anything through their own efforts!

Galatians 2:16yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Grace is given to sinners, who do not deserve it or can earn it, through their repentance or their obedience! For if they could fulfill the Law with their Obedience, then they have something to boast about.

But if a guilty person could earn God's favor through their actions or activity. Then Christ died in vain! Christ was incarnated in the flesh, to fulfill the Law. Christ was obedience unto death, to fulfill His Father's will. Christ fulfilled the Law with Perfect Obedience, to free us from the curse of the Law, by becoming a curse for us! Christ was raised for us our justification!







There is nothing in our hearts to offer to God for Salvation! Our hearts is the problem!

Steeno7 said:

"How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" Gal. 3:3

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But believers are to obey the Law, right?

ihavefoundgod951 said:

Do we have to confess our sins? Or is the debt the lord payed on the cross paid in full past present and future?

If we are under grace and not the old covenant law (mosaic law) as some advacate, why do we need to confess sin?

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I have no doubt that my sin is already forgiven but for me, I still must look to find my faults in order to grow Spiritually. God will change us if we seek his help but we can become stagnant in our growth if we stop self examination.

It is also important for us to do what we can to make those people whole whom we have damaged. God's Spirit can reveal these sins if we truly seek guidance. When we find those we have sinned against, we should go to them and confess our wrong and rectify what we can.

Yarddog said:

I have no doubt that my sin is already forgiven but for me, I still must look to find my faults in order to grow Spiritually. God will change us if we seek his help but we can become stagnant in our growth if we stop self examination.

It is also important for us to do what we can to make those people whole whom we have damaged. God's Spirit can reveal these sins if we truly seek guidance. When we find those we have sinned against, we should go to them and confess our wrong and rectify what we can.

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There are different topics here.
ihavefoundgod951 is not talking about the same thing you are talking about.
I believe he is referrring to confessing our sins to God as in 1 John 1:9
But you are referring to confessing your faults to one another that you may be healed as in James 5:16.
Our sin, because it has been put away (Hebrews 9:26) will not affect our relationship with God.
So it does not need to be restored by confession. Unbelievers confess they are sinners (Step 1 to becoming a child of God)then they can have a relationship with God.
But people are not God, and if you sin against them, you will have to confess your sin to restore that relationship.

Doug Melven said:

There are different topics here.
ihavefoundgod951 is not talking about the same thing you are talking about.
I believe he is referrring to confessing our sins to God as in 1 John 1:9
But you are referring to confessing your faults to one another that you may be healed as in James 5:16.
Our sin, because it has been put away (Hebrews 9:26) will not affect our relationship with God.
So it does not need to be restored by confession. Unbelievers confess they are sinners (Step 1 to becoming a child of God)then they can have a relationship with God.
But people are not God, and if you sin against them, you will have to confess your sin to restore that relationship.

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I am talking about both. I feel that I need to acknowledge(confess) my son to my heavenly Father. I know that my sin is forgiven but in order to grow Spiritually, I need to always self examine myself and depend on God to change me so I do better.