Hi Grace,
Confession and repentance cleanses us because we sinned. That sin is not righteous. The fact that we're declared righteous in Christ, when we sin it's sinful, dirty, ugly. It must be acknowledge as sin or we'll continue on in that sin because it's not being brought into the light. Sin is walking in darkness.
I don't need cleansing to become righteous and I've never heard that teaching and I've been in a few churches, not just one denomination. And even if some teach that, we don't throw the verse away because someone teaches it in error. God's word is precious and righteous.
Repentance brings us back into a right relationship with our Lord. There's something between us when we sin just like there's something between 2 people when they've done something against the other. Until they ask for forgiveness for the sin against them, there will always be a strained relationship.
That's how I feel when I have sinned against someone. I feel bad, I want to make amends, I want to ask for forgiveness and make it right with them. Because I love them and that's what love does.
And that's what John is teaching. Those who are walking in the light will bring their sinful deeds to the light so that they can continue on walking in the light. Stepping into darkness is stepping away from God in our heart. We end up leaving Him and His ways for awhile. We've gotten dirty and need to be washed up. Our actions have not been pure and we need to acknowledge our sin before Him.
In John, he's talking to, "my little children". Not gnostics. If fact all of the NT letters are written to believers.
I'm finding that it's becoming a habit of false teachers to continually take away the scriptures. Old Testament is now gone. Some go as far as to say that they only follow Paul. You have even said that Jesus' teachings are OT. And there are some false teachers that tell you not to bring your bible. I wonder why? Sounds like the enemy is afoot.
In Matthew 28, Jesus said that the apostles would preach the gospel of the kingdom. All of Jesus' teaching in the gospel writings are His teachings about how we are to live in the kingdom. And Jesus said that the apostles would go out into the world to make disciples, that they would baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And Jesus told them to teach the disciples to obey ALL of Jesus' teachings. ALL, not some, but all.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
All scripture is inspired by God. Not just the NT, but All. And when Paul said this he was referring to the OT because there wasn't a NT yet.
Paul spoke of the need for cleansing.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
James does as well.
James 4:10 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
I dont know Grace why you were stuck. I've always felt so pure after confessing and never felt stuck. And the bad that I felt when I saw that I sinned was freeing because it brought me right to the feet of Jesus. I went to the only one who would forgive me and had/has the power to change me from within. How can one feel stuck when they go before the Lord of all mercy and all grace?
And maybe you don't confess to be cleansed, but I do. Just as I get dirty in the natural when I work and sweat and get stinky, so it is spiritually as well. I get stinky when I've stepped into sin. A lie, a piece of gossip, an unkind word, wrongful judging, worrying about the cares of the world......whatever it might be, I get dirty and need a bath in the arms of God's redeeming love. That's one part of the manifold beauty of His grace.