Obsession with Confession (1 John 1:9, sin confession)

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PeacefulWarrior

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Romans 6:1-23

If overcoming our desires to sin were so easy to do then Paul would not have written so much about us not sinning.
If overcoming sin was easy, then why Jesus?
 
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FreeNChrist

Guest
This is for those who wish to refute the idea of sin confession for forgiveness. Its rather long but I found it on the web and feel like it addresses 1 John 1:9 really well. If you have the time, give it a read. It will definitely open your eyes to the truth, in regards to whether a Christian must confess their sins in order to be forgiven or not. One of the best methods to address 1 John 1:9 to those who believe in sin confession, considering this is the only verse to support the doctrine. Enjoy...

Originally from:
1 John and the Gnostics...... - The Watchman's CryWhy did the Gnostics claim to be "without sin"?


Great post! I'm late to the party, but wanted to encourage you in your stand with Christ on this most important truth. Our understanding and acceptance of the reality that in Christ we HAVE forgiveness (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14) really is that upon which our correct understanding of Scripture and being new covenant Christians rests. Good stuff brother.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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Great post! I'm late to the party, but wanted to encourage you in your stand with Christ on this most important truth. Our understanding and acceptance of the reality that in Christ we HAVE forgiveness (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14) really is that upon which our correct understanding of Scripture and being new covenant Christians rests. Good stuff brother.
There are at times one thinks they are abusing the grace of God. The truth, however, is that God's grace cannot be abused because there are no limits to His grace. If there were limits to grace, it wouldn't be grace but mercy. However, thank God we are saved by grace through faith. People see licentiousness, license to sin, as a result of grace but that cannot be the case.

Grace sets us free from such dominion (of sin), if indeed someones sin has increased its not due to God's grace but their flesh. They have yet to fully grasp the changing power of God's grace, and what happens as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They, as with us all, need to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
 
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FreeNChrist

Guest
There are at times one thinks they are abusing the grace of God. The truth, however, is that God's grace cannot be abused because there are no limits to His grace. If there were limits to grace, it wouldn't be grace but mercy. However, thank God we are saved by grace through faith. People see licentiousness, license to sin, as a result of grace but that cannot be the case.

Grace sets us free from such dominion (of sin), if indeed someones sin has increased its not due to God's grace but their flesh. They have yet to fully grasp the changing power of God's grace, and what happens as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They, as with us all, need to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Exactly. As if man has ever needed a license to sin.....
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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When we are in the world we are sinners,although we can do good,but not entirely,and we can never fulfill God's law of love,which love is the fulfilling of the law.

When we confess Christ and repent of our sins truthfully,then all our sins are forgiven and not on our record,because the blood of Christ washes all those sins away.Then when we receive the Spirit we allow the Spirit to lead us to maintain that position,but we still have the capacity to sin if we desire to sin,but if we allow the Spirit to lead us we will act like Christ.

If we sin after we are saved,if we repent of it we will be forgiven for it.

The sins we repented of to be saved,we need not repent of those sins ever again,for all the past is forgiven,and all we have to do is repent of any sin we do after we are saved.If we live in sin and do not give it up,it is on our record and not forgiven,until we mean it to repent of it and not want it anymore.

The Bible says a Spirit led life is not under the law,which means if you are led of the Spirit you will act like Christ,therefore the law cannot touch you for prosecution,but if you sin you are back under the law,and if repented of that sin,and back to the Spirit leading you,you are not under the law again,but if you live in sin and will not give it up,you are back under the law,until it is repented of that sin and led of the Spirit again.

We confess Christ and repent of our sins,all sins are forgiven and off our record,there is no sins prior to that time on our record,and we never have to repent of those sins again,and we allow the Spirit to lead us,and if we sin we repent of that individual sin and it is forgiven.
Sinning does not put you back under Law. In Christ, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. When we sin, it is washed. The only verse in reference to falling from grace speaks of going back under Law, in other words to try and save yourself through self-righteousness.
 
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Sinning does not put you back under Law. In Christ, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. When we sin, it is washed. The only verse in reference to falling from grace speaks of going back under Law, in other words to try and save yourself through self-righteousness.
I have a question guys! I am struggling with this concept. Is this no confession theology fairly new? I have never heard of it before this thread.
 
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I have a question guys! I am struggling with this concept. Is this no confession theology fairly new? I have never heard of it before this thread.
It is "no confession" only in that you are not required to "make an official and/or ceremonious Confession". By all means, we cannot possibly get it in our heads that we don't have to very openly admit to God exactly what we have been doing, and also take responsibility for having done all that we have done, and are doing. We need to express our sorrow at, mainly, hurting Him, with our actions or thoughts. And, if that, to you, entails somehow "making a confession", then do so. Just know that it is not God's requirement, but rather your personal choice.
 
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FreeNChrist

Guest
I have a question guys! I am struggling with this concept. Is this no confession theology fairly new? I have never heard of it before this thread.
I won't speak for others but for myself, I am not against confession, just the errant and rampant belief within Christianity that our forgiveness is dependent upon our confession, which is nothing more than a work of the flesh.

 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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I won't speak for others but for myself, I am not against confession, just the errant and rampant belief within Christianity that our forgiveness is dependent upon our confession, which is nothing more than a work of the flesh.

Exactly, a person can confess their shortcomings to the Lord and ask for victory in areas they are struggling in. No one is against such confession, its called being open. I am specifically referring to sin confession as a means to forgiveness, that is not scriptural. We are forgiven in Jesus Christ, period. The idea that one needs to confess in order to receive forgiveness is wrong, and in some ways, detracts from the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

I think we can all agree that being open before the Lord is good, we are not to hide that which we are doing as if He isn't aware. We can keep closed doors and He won't burst them down as a gentleman, but there is so much more intimacy in leaving them all open. In other words, being naked before the Lord. We have nothing to hide, as even our sins are as white as snow in Jesus Christ.
 
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KennethC

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I bolded the one phrase that always seems to be presented by this understanding. And that goes against everything I believe Jesus taught.
Well I am sorry but what one may believe what Jesus taught does not make it biblical sound to His teachings.

Lord Jesus gave us those two greatest commands that He said we are to obey, for on those two commands hangs everything else including our faith in Him. For even the Apostle John says you can not say you love God and hater another, for that makes you a liar and you have no eternal life abiding in you.

To make confession of sins anything less then for forgiveness is to call Apostle John a liar.
 
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KennethC

Guest
Exactly, a person can confess their shortcomings to the Lord and ask for victory in areas they are struggling in. No one is against such confession, its called being open. I am specifically referring to sin confession as a means to forgiveness, that is not scriptural. We are forgiven in Jesus Christ, period. The idea that one needs to confess in order to receive forgiveness is wrong, and in some ways, detracts from the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

I think we can all agree that being open before the Lord is good, we are not to hide that which we are doing as if He isn't aware. We can keep closed doors and He won't burst them down as a gentleman, but there is so much more intimacy in leaving them all open. In other words, being naked before the Lord. We have nothing to hide, as even our sins are as white as snow in Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9 says exactly what you keep saying is wrong and not biblical.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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Well I am sorry but what one may believe what Jesus taught does not make it biblical sound to His teachings.

Lord Jesus gave us those two greatest commands that He said we are to obey, for on those two commands hangs everything else including our faith in Him. For even the Apostle John says you can not say you love God and hater another, for that makes you a liar and you have no eternal life abiding in you.

To make confession of sins anything less then for forgiveness is to call Apostle John a liar.
On the contrary, it is to call you sincerely wrong. Your interpretation, particularly. We aren't calling him a liar, we are saying that you have misunderstood his words because you have not considered the context (even so, the historical context).
 
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KennethC

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On the contrary, it is to call you sincerely wrong. Your interpretation, particularly. We aren't calling him a liar, we are saying that you have misunderstood his words because you have not considered the context (even so, the historical context).

Well that would be where you are wrong because I do understand the context, and I have done a history study of the early church and confessing of one's sins has always been done before the Catholic church even started in the 4th century.

Confession was taught and done in the first 3 centuries of the early church, and the only thing the Catholic church did was defile it by making it a have to go to a priest for that confession. The word of God however says we can make that prayer to God Himself in the name of Lord.

You do realize that the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 includes confession for sins for forgiveness ???

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."


Trespass = Sin
 
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1 John 1:9 says exactly what you keep saying is wrong and not biblical.
This is what I believe, John 1:9. This says that if we admit and confess our sins, God will forgive them. How is this if we don't have to confess our sins? I'm getting really confused. I know also it says "they confessed their sins to one another" Why would they do this if its not required? Getting a headache! Lol
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
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Well that would be where you are wrong because I do understand the context, and I have done a history study of the early church and confessing of one's sins has always been done before the Catholic church even started in the 4th century.

Confession was taught and done in the first 3 centuries of the early church, and the only thing the Catholic church did was defile it by making it a have to go to a priest for that confession. The word of God however says we can make that prayer to God Himself in the name of Lord.

You do realize that the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 includes confession for sins for forgiveness ???

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."


Trespass = Sin
You do realize that was said before Jesus died on the cross and dealt with sin??? The added question marks make it clear I am dumbfounded you don't know this. lol Im only kidding with you. Seriously though, you'll notice that later the Word says that we forgive others because we have been forgiven. We don't forgive so that we may be forgiven, as said in the Lord's prayer, but rather we forgive because God has forgiven us. We come from a place of forgiveness in order to forgive, we don't forgive so that we may be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32King James Version (KJV)

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Notice that we are forgiven, therefore forgive one another. Our forgiveness does not rely upon our forgiving of others, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ. However, we do forgive others out of the abundance of forgiveness we have received, knowing of His goodness and Christ being the example, we walk it out.
 
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KennethC

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I have already looked at that and as always what you found on the internet pulls 1 John out of context and makes it stand alone which is a dangerous thing to do with scriptures.

It does mention 2 Corinthians 5 speaking on the ministry of reconciliation but it does not go into detail about what that involves. To be reconciled to God what has to receive remission of their sins, and that is given in faith when one repents of their sins and gets baptized.

From there Jesus speaks on our walk in the faith which is what the Apostle John is speaking on, for he is not talking to unbelievers but to believers on how we are to administer our selves in that walk to know we have eternal life.

Once again the Apostles Peter and Paul both say only past sins have been forgiven...............(Romans 3:25, 2 Peter 1:9)

Even Apostle Paul warns the Apostle Timothy that he can become impure again do to sins.........(1 Timothy 5:22, 2 Timothy 2:21)

If all sins are automatically forgiven at minute one of faith this warning from Paul to Timothy would be impossible !!!
 
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KennethC

Guest
You do realize that was said before Jesus died on the cross and dealt with sin??? The added question marks make it clear I am dumbfounded you don't know this. lol Im only kidding with you. Seriously though, you'll notice that later the Word says that we forgive others because we have been forgiven. We don't forgive so that we may be forgiven, as said in the Lord's prayer, but rather we forgive because God has forgiven us. We come from a place of forgiveness in order to forgive, we don't forgive so that we may be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32King James Version (KJV)

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Notice that we are forgiven, therefore forgive one another. Our forgiveness does not rely upon our forgiving of others, but in the finished work of Jesus Christ. However, we do forgive others out of the abundance of forgiveness we have received, knowing of His goodness and Christ being the example, we walk it out.

What Jesus said before He died on the cross was not just for those before the cross, that is faulty teaching to even assume that.

Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:32 is speaking on their walk and that if they continue to live a loving lifestyle of being kind to one another and forgiving others then there would be no sins done to have to be confessed for love does no wrong to others as Paul said in Romans 13:9-11.

You must take all of Paul's writings to understand what he is saying and not just parts pulled out of context to be used alone.

What Jesus did on the cross was the one time for all sacrifice, not forgive all sins at that point.

If that was the case then unbelievers are forgiven as well but that is not the case, as we have to have faith in the Lord to receive that remission and part of the ministry is to lead others to repentance of sins as well and to be baptized into the Lord as one of His disciples.

The great commission of Matthew 28:19-20 says we (all believers) are to observe/obey everything that He commanded !!!
 
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KennethC

Guest
This is what I believe, John 1:9. This says that if we admit and confess our sins, God will forgive them. How is this if we don't have to confess our sins? I'm getting really confused. I know also it says "they confessed their sins to one another" Why would they do this if its not required? Getting a headache! Lol
The confession to the Lord in prayer is for forgiveness, and the confession to one another is for personal healing.

There is no need to get confused as that is what the spirit of antichrist wants and what some of these man made doctrines do today. They use partial teachings from the word of God by only giving and picking scriptures out of the bible and making them stand alone.

It takes long in depth study of the Word along with the Spiritual guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand His ways.
 
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BarlyGurl

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I have a question guys! I am struggling with this concept. Is this no confession theology fairly new? I have never heard of it before this thread.
There seems to be some people with REALLY RIGID vocabulary definitions of certain words... if you don't have the "cliff notes" it is hard to decipher who is carrying around which "combo-plate" of theological ideas. In this thread particularly is "confession" the catholic tradition... a personal regimen.... a principal... or a spiritual tenant.


And to answer your question... NO CONFESSION THEOLOGY is not new... but has definitely GROWN in this age.