Confession ...

[concretecamper]

Well I addressed it and as the OP, Kylissa has the right to approve a change in direction. I sense you have NO desire to actually receive proper instruction.

No answer it is then......

 

[MoreCoffee]

Already did. Apparently you glossed over those areas. Not surprised.

Forgive my ignorance and blindness, will you tell me, fool that I am, what you have in mind or what post contains your explanation, please?

 

[Steeno7]

Forgive my ignorance and blindness, will you tell me, fool that I am, what you have in mind or what post contains your explanation, please?

Sure.

Keep reading right there in first John, and when you get the part where it says he is writing "because your sins "have been" forgiven you for His name’s sake", stop and consider it well. And when you get to the part where John tells them, "these things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you", stop and consider that carefully.

 

[stan1953]

LOL. Effectually? I love it.

Glad I could set you straight.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Keep reading right there in first John, and when you get the part where it says he is writing "because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake", stop and consider it well. And when you get to the part where John tells them, "these things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you", stop and consider that carefully.

I did read those words from Christ's beloved apostle. I went on to read his word saying

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. If you consider that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him.
1 John 2:24-29
​

 

[~Anastasia~]

If I were a protestant, then I might still be inclined to "confess" even if it has no real sacramental meanings for me or my specific church. If you are burdened with sin, telling someone about it might help you heal. It's like a spouse who tells his partner he cheated, or a pastor who admits to his congregation that he embezzled money. Telling people your sins is painful, but it helps you heal and gets the guilt off your conscience.

I never thought of it as "confession" but in fact, many Protestant churches do practice some form of confession among members, or we solicit "accountability partners" which would be appropriate to confess to if we fail in the given area.

And I have often "confessed" to my husband, or to others. Sometimes I confess because I have wronged someone, and sometimes I confess attitudes of my heart.

I don't usually associate it with forgiveness (unless I have wronged someone) but I guess it's a common enough thing that is done.

I realize this is not the same as the Catholic church's Sacrament of confession and absolution.

 

[stan1953]

I did read those words from Christ's beloved apostle. I went on to read his word saying

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him.

And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. If you consider that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him.
1 John 2:24-29
​

It's a real Blessing to see when people read the Bible IN context and don't try to insert their bias INTO it.

 

[Willie T]

K,
Tuesday didn't work out. So I spoke with the man this morning. After being fairly concerned that our friendship might be damaged over my admission, all went so smoothly that I could hardly believe I had even fretted about it at all.

 

[~Anastasia~]

OK.
Obvious to me is that confession isn't about performance of process, meaning it isn't mechanically effective if perfectly performed. It can happen like &/or along with, forgiveness - by degree.
But the process by which admission of moral, ethical culpability is achieved is still transparent. It involves the concept of conscience which bears with it a sense of self responsibility. One can be ethically responsible for something one is not specifically morally guilty of, like parent's & their children's behavior (thinking of the song "Mama Tried", lol)

So refresh me, who else do we need to confess too, & why?

Thanks for explaining.

If you're asking me for answers (and I suspect you are not, LOL) ... I'm not here to offer any. I'm just exploring different perspectives.

For myself, confession in seeking forgiveness was always a private matter between myself and God, unless I wronged someone and then I went to "apologize".

I decided to search out what the Bible said, and was simply surprised that I found so many instances that speak of confessing to others. So I wanted to get others' input on what those Scriptures mean, taken as a whole, and why, and what we should do as a result?

I'm not really looking for anyone to tell me what to do. It's just that it's easier for me to decide what God really says when I can put aside my notions that come from whatever church has taught me, and try to look at it in an unbiased way. The only way I can do that, since I can't "unhear" what I was taught, is to get other perspectives to balance things out, and then approach it on my own.

 

[MoreCoffee]

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I confess that it is very late where I live and that I have been unwise to stay up so late so I ask you to pray for me to the Lord our God that my foolishness will not harm others and that he may show grace and mercy to me so that I may be refreshed by sleep and wake when I must to do the things that I have promised to do on Monday.

Good night and may God bless all of you with every blessing that he desires you to receive.

 

[~Anastasia~]

The council of Trent observed that

When Christ’s faithful strive to confess all the sins that they can remember, they undoubtedly place all of them before the divine mercy for pardon. But those who fail to do so and knowingly withhold some, place nothing before the divine goodness for remission through the mediation of the priest, “for if the sick person is too ashamed to show his wound to the doctor, the medicine cannot heal what it does not know.”

I just wanted to say, this is quite powerful. It is in thinking of sins that one might not wish to confess that the point comes through.

(I also appreciate your quote from Augustine in conjunction with it, but this hit me the strongest.)

So even though many Christians do not recognise the sacrament of confession they nevertheless seek to avail themselves of God's graces associated with it by having "accountability partners" to whom they confess faults and sins in order to both be held accountable by another and to receive help and advice from another because others can see things in us and in our conduct that we cannot see for ourselves unaided.

Good point.

 

[~Anastasia~]

My view is that forgiveness is granted when we confess our sins to God, and the purpose of confession to others is primarily for accountability and support.

Sometimes the devil can convince us that we're unworthy of God's calling because we're sinners and if we just look around us in church on a Sunday morning we see all the other people who are better than us. They don't struggle, they don't show any signs of trouble or doubt or anything, so if we can't even get that right why do we even bother with the walk. When we discuss our weaknesses with others we realise we aren't alone, and the devil loses a chance to isolate us.

Realising that other people struggle with the same things as us doesn't make the sin any less serious, but if a group meets and holds each other accountable they can also encourage each other. Even when sins are different we can support each other - to take an example if your sin is pride and mine is anger there's no reason we can't support each other, as long as we're willing to be open with each other. If your sin is pride and mine is anger but we both put on a brave face and pretend everything is just fine, we both go through life thinking we're the only one with struggles.


ETA: Just realised I wandered into yet another thread that's been running for 350 replies. Ignore me if it's not relevant any more.

No problem, Contango.

I think I will appreciate hearing your reply on any of my threads, and I don't mind if they go off-topic after a bit, or if they return.

But right now it's on-topic.

More importantly, thank you ... you brought something into the discussion that I don't believe has been mentioned yet in this way, and it's a very good point. I thank you for that.

Yes, in reflecting ways in which I struggle, and those in which I don't ... I don't share my struggles with anyone else. I tend to think some things are easy for me that others claim are hard for them - but in the areas where I do struggle, it can be discouraging, because I seem to be alone there.

Very interesting viewpoint. Maybe one day I will get brave enough to benefit from it!

Be blessed, my brother!

 

[Steeno7]

It's a real Blessing to see when people read the Bible IN context and don't try to insert their bias INTO it.

Yep, cutting n' pasting scripture is such a blessing.

 

[Steeno7]

K,
Tuesday didn't work out. So I spoke with the man this morning. After being fairly concerned that our friendship might be damaged over my admission, all went so smoothly that I could hardly believe I had even fretted about it at all.

Was wondering. Glad to hear it, Willie.

 

[~Anastasia~]

K,
Tuesday didn't work out. So I spoke with the man this morning. After being fairly concerned that our friendship might be damaged over my admission, all went so smoothly that I could hardly believe I had even fretted about it at all.

That's wonderful news! I'm glad you could unburden yourself, and this is not any kind of wedge between you as brothers.

 

[concretecamper]

Sure.

Keep reading right there in first John, and when you get the part where it says he is writing "because your sins "have been" forgiven you for His name’s sake", stop and consider it well. And when you get to the part where John tells them, "these things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you", stop and consider that carefully.

St John here was warning of the many heretics that would that would deceive the world by claiming to impart more knowledge. These new teachers have no share in the Holy Spirit. He was right!!!!

 

[Steeno7]

St John here was warning of the many heretics that would that would deceive the world by claiming to impart more knowledge. These new teachers have no share in the Holy Spirit. He was right!!!!

Indeed. He was writing about an early form of Gnosticism that had just begun to rear it's ugly head.

 

[concretecamper]

Indeed. He was writing about an early form of Gnosticism that had just begun to rear it's ugly head.

He was writing in warning of much more than gnosticism. Heresy has been present from the beginning of the church to this day.... and will continue until the end of this age.

 

[Mama Kidogo]

Not always, but often that is the case. I'm sure you've heard of tongue-in-cheek statements, sarcasm, etc.


All right. You've provided us with an example. Good.

What is being said by this sentence of yours? It's actually an accusation, isn't it? But if I comment on it, you might come back with some pious nonsense like "So in your mind, a simple statement of fact is the same passing judgment. I'm shocked, etc. etc."

'Nuff said.

My reason for asking was to discover how he came to that conclusion. I'm really not as crafty or tongue -in -cheek as you seem to think. What I think of that conclusion is another matter we may get to discuss and may not.
We all have beliefs. That's not confusing me. How we arrive at those beliefs is not as clear with some. I mean, if he learned this from the community of believers he gathers with, I understand that. It's called tradition.

 

[Albion]

He was writing in warning of much more than gnosticism. Heresy has been present from the beginning of the church to this day.... and will continue until the end of this age.

Yeh, I too thought that that "early form of Gnosticism" comment was just something pulled out of thin air.