Question About Confession.

Mr Ez · Apr 10, 2005

Hi,

1. Why do you need to confess your sin if Jesus had died for you?
2. Why not confess directly to Jesus rather than the Priest?Priest=Human
Jesus=god.

thanks.

tapero · Apr 10, 2005

Mr Ez said:
Hi,

1. Why do you need to confess your sin if Jesus had died for you?
2. Why not confess directly to Jesus rather than the Priest?Priest=Human
Jesus=god.

thanks.

Hi Mr. Ez,

We confess our sins regularly to God; Jesus, (who knows our sins) because we need to remember that we are sinners. It is so easy to forget that. We need to remember why Christ died for us and that was for our sin.

The bible says to confess our sins to each other also. The reason for that is accountability. It helps to have a trusted friend know our sin (if we so choose to tell them), as they will help us with our failings by encouraging us to stop doing the wrong we are doing.

I do not confess my sins to a priest. Others do and I can not speak to that. Perhaps they will.

Thanks for the question, Tapero

helmikaarina · Apr 10, 2005

Confessing is asking forgiveness and we do that even if we know that Jesus has died for our sins and God forgives us. It's like between us people, when you want to have a good relationship with someone, you ask forgiveness (and forgive) when there is something you (or the otherone) did wrong. It means I repent what I've done, I don't want to go on doing it, I want to make peace with you.

It's not always easy to say I did it wrong, I didn't do what I should have done, I don't live as you want me to etc. But as you say it you can see how you should live from there on and how to do God's will here on the earh.

What about confessing sins to Jesus/God or other people. I believe one can confess sins to God and will be forgiven, but sometimes it helps when one can tell what he/she has done wrong and hear the words of forgiveness from some other person (e.g. priest). Doing so it is more concrete and helps to remember and understand that God loves us and forgives our sins because of Jesus Christ.

Rafael · Apr 10, 2005

How can a person be forgiven of tresspass if they are not able to confess it? When we humble ourselves before God and confess our sins to Him, we agree with His Word and law that is written on our hearts that we have transgressed and sinned against Him. We then endeavor to repent of that sin and walk away clean and forgiven with our sins forgotten by God as far as the East is from the West.
The Bible has an order for people within the body of the believers, and some groups are more organized than others. However, God has opened the doors to us all through His Son Jesus, that we may all approach Him on the merits of Jesus sacrifice alone - that we can boldly approach His throne of grace, as we are a holy nation of priests called to bear witness to His good news.

1Pe 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, Gods holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Heb 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

Mr 16:15 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.

Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Ac 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Ac 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

2Ti 1:8 So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And dont be ashamed of me, either, even though Im in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News.

Woodsman · Apr 10, 2005

Because facing the real person you have hurt, hurts.

Serapha · Apr 10, 2005

Mr Ez said:
Hi,

1. Why do you need to confess your sin if Jesus had died for you?
2. Why not confess directly to Jesus rather than the Priest?Priest=Human
Jesus=god.

thanks.

Hi there!

God's plan of salvation is reconciliation THROUGH Jesus Christ. The confession of sins is the act of repentance, the faith comes into the picture in believing who Jesus Christ was/is and what Jesus Christ did/will do for you.

Romans 3:10: As it is written: "There is non righteous, no, not one
Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 5:12: Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-

Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 5:8: But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10: 9-13:

9..that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

You might be interested in reviewing this link for some answers to your questions... and I would invite you to send some time seeking God and talking with Him about your concerns.

http://www.christianforums.com/gospel

~serapha~

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · Apr 10, 2005

Mr Ez said:
1. Why do you need to confess your sin if Jesus had died for you?

2. Why not confess directly to Jesus rather than the Priest?Priest=Human
Jesus=god.

Because it is not so easy as "Jesus died so we're all automatically saved!" We must have faith. Faith without works is dead, so we must have works, also. Faith without love is useless, so we need that too. So, in short, we need faith, works, and love, to over-simplify things.

Now, the scriptures are clear on these things. But why confess? Because it is more about us. Jesus would have died for just one person, He loves us that much. God will save anyone, He loves us that much. Yet, not all are saved. Why? It's not Jesus' fault, it is ours. This is the whole purpose of confession. We choose whether or not to be saved. Confession is part of how we show God that we want to change, that we want to be saved.

In Orthodoxy, we do confess to Jesus. While a priest is with us (sometimes a bishop, etc) during the confession, we do not confess to him, but to God. Afterwards, the priest assures us that God forgives us and gives us beneficial advice on how we might act better next time and how to avoid the sin altogether.

heron · Apr 11, 2005

Young's Literal translation of James 5:16 says,

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=1516Be confessing to one another the trespasses, and be praying for one another, that ye may be healed; very strong is a working supplication of a righteous man

Trespass is usually an offense of one person against another. If you admit that you have harmed another, they are more ready to forgive, and everyone's happy.

There are also verses about confession before baptism...again, those who have been harmed feel a sense of justice when the person admits they have wronged others (even sins of omission, or being drunk and rude, or sleeping around, or cheating in business) and when their sins are forgiven, the others can be happy for them....especially those who knew those secret sins. It lends a sense of fairness.

It ties in with the question of sinning intentionally because we're forgiven.

In another direction...I wasn't brought up with confessionals, but I've been in Protestant circles where they took this to an extreme. People in home groups told each other everything, and gossip flew everywhere. You couldn't look anyone in the eye anymore, or trust their teachings, or trust anything they said...a pirhana feeding frenzy. In light of that, talking to a priest is a nice safeguard!

12volt_man · Apr 11, 2005

Mr Ez said:
Hi,

1. Why do you need to confess your sin if Jesus had died for you?

If you're saved, then you're saved, period!

Now, that having been said, even unconfessed sin is like a brick. Let those bricks stack up high enough, and you've got a pretty big wall between you and God.

Sin makes our hearts hard. It makes us slow to want to follow Jesus and to do the right thing, and it makes it hard for us to hear from God.

The Christian can never break his union with God, but he can damage his communion with God.

2. Why not confess directly to Jesus rather than the Priest?Priest=Human
Jesus=god.

Good point. The Bible never teaches us that men can absolve sins. Only Christ forgives.

The whole point of the temple veil tearing in two when Jesus died is that we no longer need priests to intercede for forgiveness on our behalf

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · Apr 11, 2005

12volt_man said:
If you're saved, then you're saved, period! Now, that having been said, even unconfessed sin is like a brick. Let those bricks stack up high enough, and you've got a pretty big wall between you and God. Sin makes our hearts hard. It makes us slow to want to follow Jesus and to do the right thing, and it makes it hard for us to hear from God. The Christian can never break his union with God, but he can damage his communion with God.

The whole point of the temple veil tearing in two when Jesus died is that we no longer need priests to intercede for forgiveness on our behalf

If you're saved, why does it matter? You seem to say it matters, and yet doesn't matter at the same time. Please clarify.

No, no. Jesus is a priest Himself.

ragdolly · Apr 11, 2005

After we have become a Christian, we still have our old sin nature. We must fight against it as long as we liveon this earth. We will never be perfect. We will still sin. If we are born again, we do try our best to not purposely and repeatedly sin;especially if the sin means hurting someone else. Sin hurts our witness to others and it hurts our relationship with God. We do not lose our salvation, but God hates sin. A Christian knows when they have sinned, because the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts. If we go around carrying a load of unconfessed sin, it can take away our closeness to God, and our relationship with Him should always be our first priority. When we confess our sin to Him through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is our intercessor, He forgives our sin.

1 John 1 5b-9:

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Continue reading this wonderful scripture for more instruction regarding confession of sin.

GOD BLESS! Stay whiter than snow through the blood of Jesus!

12volt_man · Apr 11, 2005

Bizzlebin Imperatoris said:
If you're saved, why does it matter? You seem to say it matters, and yet doesn't matter at the same time. Please clarify.

If you're saved, then you're saved, period!

Now, that having been said, even unconfessed sin is like a brick. Let those bricks stack up high enough, and you've got a pretty big wall between you and God.

Sin makes our hearts hard. It makes us slow to want to follow Jesus and to do the right thing, and it makes it hard for us to hear from God.

The Christian can never break his union with God, but he can damage his communion with God.

No, no. Jesus is a priest Himself.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is our high priest, our mediator between God and man. Therefore, like I said before, we no longer need priests to intercede on our behalf.

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · Apr 11, 2005

12volt_man said:
The Bible tells us that Jesus is our high priest, our mediator between God and man. Therefore, like I said before, we no longer need priests to intercede on our behalf.

First off, could you please rephrase and clarify that first part.

If Jesus is our High Priest, then we still do need a priest to intercede for us: Jesus.

12volt_man · Apr 11, 2005

Bizzlebin Imperatoris said:
First off, could you please rephrase and clarify that first part.

I'm sorry. I don't know how to make it any simpler.

We're saved by faith in Christ. Through Him, our sins are forgiven.

However, we still need to confess our sins, or else our walk with Christ suffers because we are feeding the old man and not the new.

If Jesus is our High Priest, then we still do need a priest to intercede for us: Jesus.

Right but for the purposes of this thread, it's assumed that, by "priest", we mean a human being who is believed to be able to forgive sin and have some sort of direct line to God, such as in Roman Catholicism.

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · Apr 11, 2005

12volt_man said:
We're saved by faith in Christ. Through Him, our sins are forgiven.

However, we still need to confess our sins, or else our walk with Christ suffers because we are feeding the old man and not the new.

Right but for the purposes of this thread, it's assumed that, by "priest", we mean a human being who is believed to be able to forgive sin and have some sort of direct line to God, such as in Roman Catholicism.

If we are saved and forgiven, then what does it matter that our walk with Christ suffers? If we're secure in our salvation, why worry about it?

I don't want to speak wrongly for the RCs, but as I understand it, their priests are much like pastors in many ways. While they do hear confessions, ultimately Jesus is the one that forgives the person. Everyone has a direct line to God, I am pretty sure they teach that as well.

12volt_man · Apr 11, 2005

Bizzlebin Imperatoris said:
If we are saved and forgiven, then what does it matter that our walk with Christ suffers? If we're secure in our salvation, why worry about it?

So, in other words, "OK, Jesus. I got what I wanted. See you when I'm dead".

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · Apr 11, 2005

12volt_man said:
So, in other words, "OK, Jesus. I got what I wanted. See you when I'm dead".

That is the logical conclusion of OSAS, is it not?

12volt_man · Apr 11, 2005

Bizzlebin Imperatoris said:
That is the logical conclusion of OSAS, is it not?

Not if it is properly understood.

Jesus did not save us to be potted plants, but to grow and be conformed to His image and to fellowship with Him.

Bizzlebin Imperatoris · Apr 11, 2005

12volt_man said:
Not if it is properly understood.

Jesus did not save us to be potted plants, but to grow and be conformed to His image and to fellowship with Him.

But it allows us to be. Under OSAS, we can be as evil as we want. That completely goes against God's teaching. There is a flaw somewhere.

12volt_man · Apr 12, 2005

Bizzlebin Imperatoris said:
But it allows us to be. Under OSAS, we can be as evil as we want. That completely goes against God's teaching. There is a flaw somewhere.

I think the flaw is in your understanding of OSAS.

The Bible clearly tells us that if we are saved, if we have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, that we will desire the things of God, and will turn away from sin.

Likewise, it tells us that if we do continue on in a lifestyle of willful, unrepentant sin, that there is something seriously wrong with our walk with Christ and we may not be saved, after all.

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