It's the "one point" of Calvinism that rears its ugly head even with so called Grace teachers. In this case the one point preacher believes that a person faiths forgiveness. They won't say that, but by their fruits of what they teach that is what they are claiming to be the case. In essence God hasn't really forgiven a person at the cross unless a person believes it. So the preacher can not say to anyone "your sins are forgiven by God" because he does not know if a person truly believes it (and is saved with the Holy Spirit alive living in them giving them LIFE) or will believe forgiveness of sins in the future. There is no good news in that message of conditional forgiveness. It's a limited propitiation message; the old code name was "limited atonement" (which is what many preachers use the erroneous atonement statement for what Jesus did on the cross), which is the one main tenet of Calvinism. It is the "L" in the T.U.L.I.P. acronym for Calvinism, also known as Reformed teaching. In this view, Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world, just for those that would believe (the elect in their minds). This is a false gospel. It is a fake gospel message.
Bottom line is, if Jesus did not die for "ALL" then no one could come to God the Father in the first place. The offer of Life Eternal to anyone that would believe is hollow and makes God out to be a liar.
JESUS DIED...
For all (1st Timothy 2:6; Isaiah 53:6).
For every man (Hebrews 2:9).
For the world (John 3:16).
For the sins of the whole world (1st John 2:2).
For the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
For false teachers (2nd Peter 2:1).
For many (Matthew 20:28).
For Israel (John 11:50-51).
For the Church (Eph. 5:25).
For "me" (Gal. 2:20).
For those that deny the completed forgiveness on the cross for all people, I have the following questions and thoughts for you to ponder.
Does "faithing" forgiveness cause God to go backwards and forgive you your sins on the cross? God's word says, "For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Hebrews 9:22)
Christ Jesus died for "sinners." Guess what, we were all sinners to begin with! So did God die for you while you were still a sinner or when you were a saint according to God's word? "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
If your pastor/teacher is a one point Calvinist or doesn't believe that Jesus forgave everyone their sins on the cross, then they are preaching a weak gospel and not preaching the Gospel of Christ. And as far as the message of the cross is concerned for you, if Jesus did not forgive everyone, then how can you be sure you are included in the ones that Jesus did forgive on the cross? Is it your faith in your faith that saves you, or is it the Grace of God, through faith in completed forgiveness on the cross that saves a person? Have you really worked out your salvation if you can not answer the question? I plead with you, work out your salvation today. Understand what you believe and who you place faith in. Do not place faith in your own belief system or in your own understanding, but on the word of God.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:12,13
Here are a number of questions in reference to 1 John 1:9 from someone a bit confused on what the word confess means in 1 John 1:9 of scripture. Due to the number of questions being asked and statements being tossed around, I felt it was important to share these questions and the answers in full context about the 1 John 1:9 posting.
Peace,
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.
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?
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.
Jesus is not coming back to deal with sin ever again. He did it once, for all. Forgiveness of sins has happened in the past, now eternal life is at hand in the present. Receive eternal life via the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, the perfect man without sin, who became sin for us. Your sins are forgiven now. Jesus offers everyone that will receive forgiveness, eternal life. Receive his forgiveness today, and receive his life in you.
By the way, Jesus has indeed already returned, and this has already happened, including the actual physical Millenial Reign of Jesus Himself, and we are now in the Little Season time frame where satan (all of satan) has been released to deceive the nations for a period of time. Note this is physical, NOT a spiritual interperation of real events. And furthermore, Jesus is still down here on Earth, in physical flesh and bone form, in a location that is called "The Camp of the Saints."
Many folks on both sides of the Calvinism and the Arminian debate are fighting over the forgiveness issue and not understanding the life giving issue of Jesus Christ. Calvinists and Arminians definitely do not speak the same language at all. I am not talking about differences of opinion, and they certainly have that; but more toward an understanding of the very foundation of Christianity. This is not about semantics, but truth.
Jesus Did Not Atone for Sin, He Took it Away Forever.
It will probably come as a shock to both the Arminians and the Calvinists, that Jesus did not atone for sin. Jesus took away the sins of the whole world. Jesus was the propitiation of sin. Propitiation is not atonement. Atonement covered sins in the Old Testament via the blood of bulls and goats. Jesus did not cover sins, he took them away completely, never to see them again, never to bring them up again, never to condemn a person again because of their sins. Yes, I know there are a couple of places in the New Testament that some bible translations have the word propitiation, translated as atonement, but if you look at other translations, the word is propitiation, not atonement. Bible translators over the centuries have intentionally altered the meaning of the forgiveness issue (and translations are simply translations from the originals and satan has gone out of its way to hide the truth), along with the eternal life issue and the election issue too, as though these were all one and the same. They are not one and the same, and people have placed faith on the traditions of men instead of the Truth of the word of God.
For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:24-28
If there was any more forgiveness required by God, he would have to die on the cross again. Is he going to do that? No! Forgiveness was completed, finished, done once for all, done for all time.
Forgiven Forever. Behold the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. Jesus
Jesus forgave your sins on the cross, so he could give you everlasting life when you believe. Believe and receive Jesus as God in the flesh, risen from the dead today for Life eternal.
