Confessing your sins...

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

I was just wondering, and this may be a silly question, and I probalyl already know the answer, but what Iw as wondering was I know that the bible says that to keep your sins confessed, because God can only use a clean vessel.

Now what happens, if you sin, like accidentaly like I donno are rude to someone (as an example) or something, and you dont really notice it. What about confessing those sins you may not remember.

I guess what I am trying to say is, like if you committed a major sin.. whatever it may be youd remember it. But what about the ones that y9ou forget about. How do you pray about those? So you are a clean vessel again?

Is it ok to pray for sins in general? or should you be specific, like Lord please forgive me for (Insert sin here).

I dont really have a way with words lol... so I hope you can understand what I am trying to get across.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

From a Catholic Point of view:

There are things called venial sins and mortal sins.

Venial sins are minor ones, like those mentioned in 1 John 5:16-17; Luke 12:47-48. These sins can be forgiven just by asking God point blank, or by just asking God at the end of the day to "forgive all my sins I commited today." This has been the teaching of the Catholic Church for over 2,000 years, but, today, most Protestants no longer agree that there is such a distinction.

Mortal sins , or the "Big Ones" as you call them are what lead to death and must be absolved in the sacrament of reconciliation. We believe you must spell out every single mortal sin to a priest in order to be forgiven by them. While, venial sins do not have to be confessed to a priest.

"Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 5:19

In that verse Jesus teaches that breaking the least of commandments is venial sin (the person is still saved but is least in the kingdom), versus mortal sin (the person is not saved).

Bottom line:

We believe small sins can be forgiven by just asking God for general forgivness. Big sins, need to be confessed one by one.

Here are my two favorite prayers for forgivness:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

We say this every Sunday at Mass (my favorite!!)

"I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

 

[Jenna]

Hello 'Sign',

God knows what you have done and if you have a penitent heart. To the best of my knowledge, it does not say in the bible that you have to pray in any specific way, or that you must offer up your confession in a numbered list. lol If you are still worried about it though, you could add something to your prayers like this....

Lord, please forgive me for the things that I have done and left undone that have displeased you. While I strive to always be a shining example of your love, there are times that I fall short, whether intentional or not- and for that I ask your forgiveness........

Of course, you can say whatever you like. The point is, you know that there are things that you goof up on sometimes, and all you have to do is admit that to our Lord, and ask that he forgive you.

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Hello 'Sign',

God knows what you have done and if you have a penitent heart. To the best of my knowledge, it does not say in the bible that you have to pray in any specific way, or that you must offer up your confession in a numbered list. lol If you are still worried about it though, you could add something to your prayers like this....

Lord, please forgive me for the things that I have done and left undone that have displeased you. While I strive to always be a shining example of your love, there are times that I fall short, whether intentional or not- and for that I ask your forgiveness........

Of course, you can say whatever you like. The point is, you know that there are things that you goof up on sometimes, and all you have to do is admit that to our Lord, and ask that he forgive you.

Hi Jenna!! I see you survived the crash!

Thanks for the input. that is a really great way to ask God for forgiveness for the sins that may "slip our minds". I will be sure to keep that prayer in my book.

 

[frost]

I was just wondering, and this may be a silly question, and I probalyl already know the answer, but what Iw as wondering was I know that the bible says that to keep your sins confessed, because God can only use a clean vessel.

Now what happens, if you sin, like accidentaly like I donno are rude to someone (as an example) or something, and you dont really notice it. What about confessing those sins you may not remember.

I guess what I am trying to say is, like if you committed a major sin.. whatever it may be youd remember it. But what about the ones that y9ou forget about. How do you pray about those? So you are a clean vessel again?

Is it ok to pray for sins in general? or should you be specific, like Lord please forgive me for (Insert sin here).

I dont really have a way with words lol... so I hope you can understand what I am trying to get across.

Hello Sign Of The Fish. I believe God knows us better than we know ourselves! When we first put our faith in Christ, the Bible tells us we're "new creations" (2 Cor. 5:17) He takes these new creations and begins transforming their lives. Some sins, God immediately takes from us. Other sins, which may not be apparent at first, are brought to light by the Holy Spirit later in our Christian walk. I do not believe there is a need to confess sins that you don't even know you've committed. What is important is keeping God foremost in your life (Mark 12:30.) Confess when you know you've sinned. God knows your heart and will take care of the rest! Remember, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

God bless...

 

[Galadriel]

Hey all,

Well, what if say you did a sin that you aren't totally very sorry for? I mean, say I might sin by being a bit mean to someone, well, what if I say I am sorry, and I want to be sorry, but I am not sure I really feel like I am? Does that make sense?

Sometimes in bed when I pray I say "forgive me for any sins I committed" and I know God wants me to be very sorry, and I do feel bad, but sometimes I just can't work up that very sorry feeling. Do you know what I mean? Like, I had best feel very sorry or God won't forgive.

 

[pax]

Hey all,

Well, what if say you did a sin that you aren't totally very sorry for? I mean, say I might sin by being a bit mean to someone, well, what if I say I am sorry, and I want to be sorry, but I am not sure I really feel like I am? Does that make sense?

Sometimes in bed when I pray I say "forgive me for any sins I committed" and I know God wants me to be very sorry, and I do feel bad, but sometimes I just can't work up that very sorry feeling. Do you know what I mean? Like, I had best feel very sorry or God won't forgive.

There is a difference between "feeling" sorry and "being" sorry. We can feel guilt and sorrow, and these are very good emotions/feelings that can move us to repentance. However, they are not always there. In this case we have to be sorry. We have to ask for forgiveness with a desire to repent

 

[BeanMak]

It also helps me to pray asking not only for forgiveness, but also to pray for strength and wisdom to be more Christ-like in my daily life

 

[ElElohe]

I think C.S. Lewis put it best (I don't remember which book this is from). He said, in a paraphrase, that IF there were to be a differentiation between the "badness" of sins, the worst would be those of the mind, or premeditated, as opposed to those of the flesh.

But in reality, there is not a distinction between sin. If we have broken one part of the Law, we have broken the whole Law (James 2).

My favorite passage on confession is in James as well: Confess your sins one to another.

I was just wondering, and this may be a silly question, and I probalyl already know the answer, but what Iw as wondering was I know that the bible says that to keep your sins confessed, because God can only use a clean vessel.

Now what happens, if you sin, like accidentaly like I donno are rude to someone (as an example) or something, and you dont really notice it. What about confessing those sins you may not remember.

I guess what I am trying to say is, like if you committed a major sin.. whatever it may be youd remember it. But what about the ones that y9ou forget about. How do you pray about those? So you are a clean vessel again?

Is it ok to pray for sins in general? or should you be specific, like Lord please forgive me for (Insert sin here).

I dont really have a way with words lol... so I hope you can understand what I am trying to get across.

 

[allieisme]

I believe that you do not have to confess each and every sin to be forgiven.. Its like said above. If you ask for forgivness and your truly sorry about it, God WILL hear you, and forgive you.
At least what I do, when I pray, I ask God to forgive my sins daily. I cant say I sin everyday, I might with an accidental swear word or maybe something I was thinking that wasnt very nice about someone.. I dont know, I'm just giving examples here..
But I just ask God to forgive my sins, I dont think there is anything wrong with asking in general and just asking everyday..

 

[God_follower]

Jesus died for ALL our sins, and it might have been said already but i didnt have time to read em all. If I had to say all my sins by name id be in some real trouble. I just ask that he forgive me for everything and use me how I am, a sinful man, but i am no longer a slave to sin even tho i still do them without thinking.