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| Confess Jesus Has Done it All |
Shalom,Shalom - meanings: Peace, Completeness, Hello
You seem to suggest that one does NOT have to nor need to CONFESS their Sins to be FORGIVEN of those Sins.
Perhaps you would also suggest then that Jesus was confused when He was teaching His disciples to PRAY the Lord's PRAYER in Lk. 11:4 - when he personally COMMANDED Believers to PRAY to the FATHER for the FORGIVENESS of their Sins...which you suggest they do NOT even need to CONFESS/Acknowledge/Admit.
Luke 11:4 (KJV) 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
However, if it is NOT necessary to CONFESS/Acknowledge/Admit our Sins then Jesus was wrong. Likewise, so was John, in 1 Jn. 1:10, which immediately follows, by the way, the CONFESSION Passage of 1 Jn. 1:10, John declares that he who does NOT say (CONFESS) that he has sinned, would be untrue as well.
1 John 1:10 (KJV) 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. In summary, while not being personally required to CONFESS one's Sins, sounds all warm and fuzzy - Initial Justification absent CONFESSION of one's Sins, while CONFESSING that Yeshua Jesus did indeed die for those said Sins - would seem to be a bit contrary to each other.
FORGIVENESS without CONFESSION...? Can we actually be JUSTIFIED and FORGIVEN for Sins we KNOWINGLY refuse to CONFESS.
PLEASE read Heb. 10:26-31
What does confess mean according to 1 john 1:9?
First off, the word "confess" simply means to agree with God. The word in Greek means according to Strong's G3670 - homologeō - ὁμολογέω is to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent. Let's be crystal clear; confess does not mean to ask for forgiveness.
Source: The New Testament Greek Lexicon
Strong's Number: 3670 o(mologeÑw
Original Word Word Origin o(mologeÑw from a compound of the base of (3674) and (3056) Transliterated Word Phonetic Spelling Homologeo hom-ol-og-eh'-o Parts of Speech TDNT Verb 5:199,687 Definition
- to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent
- to concede
- not to refuse, to promise
- not to deny
- to confess
- declare
- to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of
- to profess
- to declare openly, speak out freely
- to profess one's self the worshipper of one
- to praise, celebrate
Translated Words KJV (24) - acknowledgeth, 1; confess, 17; confession is made, 1; give thanks, 1; profess, 3; promise, 1;NAS (26) - acknowledge, 2; admit, 1; assured, 1; confess, 6; confessed, 4; confesses, 6; confessing, 1; declare, 1; give thanks, 1; made, 1; profess, 1; promised, 1; Verse Count KJV NAS
Matthew 3 Luke 1 John 3 Acts 2 Romans 2 1 Timothy 1 Titus 1 Hebrews 2 1 John 5 2 John 1
Matthew 3 Luke 1 John 3 Acts 3 Romans 2 1 Timothy 1 Titus 1 Hebrews 2 1 John 5 2 John 1 Revelation 1
Confession has a much deeper meaning.
The very word to confess also has a much deeper meaning to agreeing with God about the whole aspect of what Jesus did on the cross and what sin really is all about. The question and statement being proposed above is one of confession for the forgiveness of sins as what Jesus was teaching in the "Lord's prayer" as some would say is for today's believers to do. And while we are at it, why stop there in our understanding of forgiveness? Why not take it back all the way to the sacrificial system of obtaining forgiveness for a person's sins where they practiced atonement (killing of animals) for sins on the alter? After all, didn't God command the Israelites to sacrifice animals for their sins? If Jesus and God are one and the same, was God wrong for requiring a sacrificial system for getting a person's sins covered in the first place?
What has changed? Why don't we use the sacrificial system for forgiveness today? Why don't we use the Lord's Prayer as a foundation for getting our sins forgiven today? What has so drastically changed that the forgiveness issue has been settled once for all? Why does God say in the bible today that when Jesus comes back, he is not going to deal with sin ever again? "And he will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for him." (Hebrews 9:28) So, how could the writer of Hebrews ever make a statement like that if we still need the sacrificial system in place, or use the "Lord's Prayer" as a template guide to getting our sins forgiven? The answer is, he could not.
My point here is that there are periods in time from the human perspective where something is said in the bible that is required by God at that particular point in time. In the old testament, God required the sacrificial system in place for getting ones' sins forgiven or atoned for, or covered, until the one that was promised (Jesus) would take them away. In essence, atonement was a covering of sin until Jesus took sin away at the cross. Jesus was the complete propitiation for all the world's sins at the cross. The word is propitiation in the new testament when it comes to describing what Jesus has done. Jesus did not cover sin, but took it away on the cross. We have so watered down the cross today, and even the message of salvation, that many use the word atonement (and even some bible translations have the word atonement) to describe what Jesus has done for us; as though Jesus is an extension of the atonement system in the old testament. Let's clarify this completely, Jesus is the one that took the sins away. God is not going to uncover them or expose them again. John the Baptist got it right when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world." Now, we should be shouting from the roof tops, "Behold the Lamb of God, Jesus the one that took away the sins of the world!"
As far as confession, or agreeing with God concerning our sins, of course the believer agrees with God concerning their sins. But, there is also the agreement with God concerning what has happened to our sins when Jesus, God in the flesh, took them away completely on the cross. In fact, many are living a lie today, and the truth is not in them, and thinking that they need more forgiveness today in order to be saved or even maintaining salvation, or to remain in fellowship with God, because in their minds, salvation to them means getting their sins forgiven. Salvation is not getting your sins forgiven today. Salvation is receiving eternal life. See also, "What is salvation and how can I know with full assurance that I’m saved?"
What is willfully sinning according to Hebrews 10:26?
The book of Hebrews and especially the section of Hebrews 10:26-31 puts this in perspective. This section is talking directly with the person that is going back to the sacrificial system or in this case, thinking that they need more forgiveness from God for their sins. A person like this is wilfully sinning in their continual denial before God when it comes to understanding of what Jesus has done on the cross for their sins. This person is trampling on Jesus.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I agree, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." What are you going to do with the sin issue? Are you going back to the confession booth for forgiveness? Are you offering a sacrifice for your sins after knowing the truth? Are you continually using 1 John 1:9 to cover your sins to gain forgiveness? Are you asking God to do what he has already done for you? Are you trampling on the Truth? Are you thinking that more forgiveness is needed by God for your sins?
Please read the Welcome message.
More information on related topics below:
- Understanding First John 1:9
- The Lord's Prayer: Understanding it in Context
- Saints and Sinners
- When Jesus Christ Comes Again
- Hebrews 6:4-8 Understanding of Falling Away
- What Must I Do To Be Saved?
- Do Sins Separate Us From God?
Ultimately, the sin that so easily entangles is the denial that Jesus has done it all, and wrongfully thinking that something else is necessary for forgiveness to be executed on our behalf. Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Sad that some misinterpret 1 John 1:9 and go backwards to the law. What lives of torment such persons must lead, having to keep "short accounts" so they will not be guilty of un-confessed sin. A part of the problem is the failure to understand what Jesus Christ has done for us in the final finished and complete work of the cross.
ReplyDeleteThis dreadful misinterpretation of scripture leads to falsely believing that Christians are just warmed over sinners, different only in that they believe in Jesus.
The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ has gained permanent forgiveness for every believer, in relation with God.
I lived in bondage of seeking forgiveness for 60 yrs. until I realized that the accuser would tattle to GOD, but Jesus would step in and declare me RIGHTEOUS, He paid for my sins. One thing would keep coming back until I got mad, mentally took it to the cross and nailed it there. When it came again I declared it is nailed to the cross and is under the blood of Christ. It has never come up since. I am so FREE in Christ!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is very helpful. When Jesus taught; "you must be born again" He is offering a whole new life, it is the old life that sins, not the new one. This is not sinless perfection but a true understanding that not only are our sins "paid for" but I am a new creation in christ. God not only totally forgives the repentant sinner but gives him/her a whole new life in Christ. To know that it is the old me that sins and not the new me is to understand the essence of Christianity, not reform but new birth. This is what Paul discovered in Rom. 7:17.
ReplyDeleteWe are definitely given new life when by faith we rest in what Jesus has done for us. In fact, we are called a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The "old me" never had Christ living in me, the "new me" is Christ in me. However, the bible still tells us that sin is also in us until I am "absent from the body and present with the Lord." But, because what Christ has done on the cross, God is no longer counting sins agains us. This is the good news of the new covenant!
Delete"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:18-21