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Confessing and Forgiveness

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AVBunyan

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Do I believe a saint has to confess their sins in order to be forgiven? Double NO!

Do I believe a saint has to confess their sins? No

Now, why?

First – if I read my Bible right Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 says I am already forgiven. When Christ died for my sins 2000 years ago He died for them all – the ones I, as a believer, did yesterday and the ones I am going to do later on. If God forgave me at Calvary for my sins then I am forgiven. My forgiveness is based upon Christ’s finished work at Calvary – not my confessing them.

Let’s go further. Let’s say I go in and talk mean to my wife. This is sin. I immediately sit down and read Eph. 1:7 – it says I am forgiven. I go and get drunk (God forbid!) – this is sin. I sit down and read col. 1:14 – it says I am forgiven. You see I am forgiven – it is as though I never sinned or ever will in God’s eyes – read Ephesians 1. My standing before God is sinless perfection. Yes, I sin all day long because of this vile nature I still have in me but I am forgiven already based upon Calvary!

Now, here comes the saints’ “out”. I John 1:9. This is the main verse everyone uses to say we have to confess our sins. I call this verse the “Baptist mass” for many have abused this verse into thinking that all they have to do after they sin is to confess and all is done.

This has led to an abuse of the grace we have and given some a license to sin. Shameful!

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.

Look real close if you are going to use this verse as your ammo. Take it as it stand with no application or going to any worthless ancient word studies.

Here your forgiveness is based upon your confession. This forgiveness is conditional. If you confess you get forgiveness – if you don’t – no forgiveness. I’m not talking about your “fellowship” with the Father (as some says it “really” means) – I’m talking about forgiveness.

As mentioned above my forgiveness is in Jesus Christ – not by me asking forgiveness. If you take this verse at face value for TODAY then you would be confessing your sins at an alarming rate. And what if you forgot to confess one – according to the verse it means you are not forgiven and I’d like to see you get into heaven with any sins on you. You see how if you take this verse here as it stand your new full time job as saint would be confessing all day long for we sin all day long!!! You ought to get down on your knees right now and thank the Lord for grace!

Summary – the saint does not have to confess their sins in order to have those sins forgiven – the saint is already forgiven – was forgiven a long time ago.

Does someone have to confess his or her sins in order to get forgiveness? You bet – not sure who they are but I would be willing to bet that it has something to do with Israel and the tribulation period but I know one thing it contradicts Pauline doctrine of Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 so I know it doesn’t doctrinally apply to the blood-bought saint today. Never said I understood it all - I just said it wasn’t for me today and I am glad!!!

Now – application - Do I believe it is good to confess – yes. It’s not a bad idea to cleanse the conscience before the Lord. This could remove any barriers YOU have put up that have kept you from fellowshipping with the Lord. Sometimes sin takes away our boldness to go before the throne. The Lord doesn’t put up barriers but WE DO. To acknowledge our sins and ignorances keeps us honest before the Lord. But to confess in order TO GET SOMETHING FROM God I believe to be unscriptural and not needed.

What do I know when I know I’ve blown it? I acknowledge it to my Father – I thank him for the forgiveness I have already have – I claim the power He has given me to not live that way and ask His grace so as not to do such evil again. But I don’t ask God to forgive me for why should I ask Him for something that He has already done!!!???!!! Claim the forgiveness you already have in Christa and go and sin no more!

What should understanding real forgiveness do for the saint? It should humble him. It should make him so grateful and thankful that he would not want to sin so easily. It should call his mind to a quicker repentance when he does sin knowing that God sacrificed His only Son for sin.

So, saint, guess what? You are forgiven regardless of what you do. Does this mean you should go out and live like the devil? God forbid - Rom. 6:1,2 – your duty is to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you have been called – Eph. 4:1. Are you saved? Then live like you are and let the world see a work of grace in you.


May God bless :wave:
 

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AVBunyan said:
Do I believe a saint has to confess their sins in order to be forgiven? Double NO!
In the strictest sense I agree. This is tied to our Eternal Security.

Do I believe a saint has to confess their sins? No
In fact why even bother praying? Right? We're already forgiven and know we're going to heaven. Does a saint have to confess their sins? That is debatable. Ought a saint confess their sins? You bet. Repentence doesn't end with salvation. Repentence is a continuous necessity. Why else would the Holy Spirit need to convict us of sin. Paul tells us to rebuke brothers who sin (1 Timothy 5:20). God rebukes those he loves (Revelation 3:19). In fact Hebrews 12:6 tells us "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." So since we are sons we should expect chastening Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye *******s, and not sons.

Now if we are rebuked and/or chastened, do we not repent and pray for forgiveness? Should we just say, "What the hey, I'm saved"? I should hope not.



Now, why?

First – if I read my Bible right Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 says I am already forgiven. When Christ died for my sins 2000 years ago He died for them all – the ones I, as a believer, did yesterday and the ones I am going to do later on. If God forgave me at Calvary for my sins then I am forgiven. My forgiveness is based upon Christ’s finished work at Calvary – not my confessing them.
This is the Christian life: part 1 - Salvation and amen for it!


Let’s go further. Let’s say I go in and talk mean to my wife. This is sin. I immediately sit down and read Eph. 1:7 – it says I am forgiven. I go and get drunk (God forbid!) – this is sin. I sit down and read col. 1:14 – it says I am forgiven. You see I am forgiven – it is as though I never sinned or ever will in God’s eyes – read Ephesians 1. My standing before God is sinless perfection. Yes, I sin all day long because of this vile nature I still have in me but I am forgiven already based upon Calvary!
So I suppose then you do not have to ask your wife for forgiveness either? (Don't tell that to my wife ok? :p )

If you sin, why do you immediately sit down and read your Bible? Is your conscience affected by your sin? This is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I would recommend you get down on your knees and apologize (as for forgiveness), and ask for strength to resist.

Now, here comes the saints’ “out”. I John 1:9. This is the main verse everyone uses to say we have to confess our sins. I call this verse the “Baptist mass” for many have abused this verse into thinking that all they have to do after they sin is to confess and all is done.

This has led to an abuse of the grace we have and given some a license to sin. Shameful!
Amen to that! We need to put repentance into the mix!

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.

Look real close if you are going to use this verse as your ammo. Take it as it stand with no application or going to any worthless ancient word studies.
I happen to know Greek, though I barely use it on these forums or from the pulpit. I will not use it for this verse either since it is not necessary. I would ask you to look up one verse to verse 8

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

So if we yet have sin, we yet require forgiveness. The sin will not "take away" our salvation, but it will cause us to grieve the Holy Spirit, and to appear as liars (to the world ? ).


Here your forgiveness is based upon your confession. This forgiveness is conditional. If you confess you get forgiveness – if you don’t – no forgiveness. I’m not talking about your “fellowship” with the Father (as some says it “really” means) – I’m talking about forgiveness.

As mentioned above my forgiveness is in Jesus Christ – not by me asking forgiveness. If you take this verse at face value for TODAY then you would be confessing your sins at an alarming rate. And what if you forgot to confess one – according to the verse it means you are not forgiven and I’d like to see you get into heaven with any sins on you. You see how if you take this verse here as it stand your new full time job as saint would be confessing all day long for we sin all day long!!! You ought to get down on your knees right now and thank the Lord for grace!
Very true!

Does someone have to confess his or her sins in order to get forgiveness? You bet – not sure who they are but I would be willing to bet that it has something to do with Israel and the tribulation period but I know one thing it contradicts Pauline doctrine of Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 so I know it doesn’t doctrinally apply to the blood-bought saint today. Never said I understood it all - I just said it wasn’t for me today and I am glad!!!
These two verses deal with your salvation (the means) not your sanctification (your daily life, becoming holy as God is holy).


Now – application - Do I believe it is good to confess – yes. It’s not a bad idea to cleanse the conscience before the Lord. This could remove any barriers YOU have put up that have kept you from fellowshipping with the Lord. Sometimes sin takes away our boldness to go before the throne. The Lord doesn’t put up barriers but WE DO. To acknowledge our sins and ignorances keeps us honest before the Lord. But to confess in order TO GET SOMETHING FROM God I believe to be unscriptural and not needed.
I thought you said you had no sin? You said you were already forgiven right? So how could you have sin to confess even if it's in application alone (confession). If you're forgiven already then there exists no sin.


What do I know when I know I’ve blown it? I acknowledge it to my Father – I thank him for the forgiveness I have already have – I claim the power He has given me to not live that way and ask His grace so as not to do such evil again. But I don’t ask God to forgive me for why should I ask Him for something that He has already done!!!???!!! Claim the forgiveness you already have in Christa and go and sin no more!
How can you have blown it? You're already forgiven remember? Why do you need to ask for His grace? You've already got it remember?


What should understanding real forgiveness do for the saint? It should humble him. It should make him so grateful and thankful that he would not want to sin so easily. It should call his mind to a quicker repentance when he does sin knowing that God sacrificed His only Son for sin.
I agree totally.


So, saint, guess what? You are forgiven regardless of what you do. Does this mean you should go out and live like the devil? God forbid - Rom. 6:1,2 – your duty is to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you have been called – Eph. 4:1. Are you saved? Then live like you are and let the world see a work of grace in you.


May God bless :wave:
Yes, you are forgiven regardless of what you do. You should not sin so that grace may abound. Your duty is to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you have been called. You are saved!

Live like you are saved. Continue in repentance and growth, this is sanctification (which is progressive), which is a process by which we become more Christ like. You will sin, you need to ask for strength and forgiveness, the very conviction of God in your life calls for this. The true work of grace that the world will see in you is your willingness to ask for forgiveness, your humility (not acting like you are sinless, which you are not), your love of God, His word, and the work (sanctification) that God continues to do in your life as you daily walk with him and become more like him.
 
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AVBunyan

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Enigma'07 said:
Yes, we are forgiven, but the point of asking is to show how sorry we are for sinning against God.
I don't have a problem with that as long as we know that our asking doesn't give us forgiveness - Christ provided that arleady at Calvary.

Plus true repentance is not just being real sorry but a change of heart that determines one will not do the sin again or will quite doing it - I know you were not implying that I just threw that in for free because my preacher just preached that Tuesday night.

God bless :wave:
 
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