Overcoming Sin by Confessing it to God

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Here's another article by this guy. This one's much shorter. I was surprised and delighted to see that he says what I've said for a long time: acknowledgment of sin (or at least that we are sinful creatures, or are blind) is the doorway into the sheepfold.

link > Overcoming Sin by Confessing it to God | Apologetics Index

Confession of sin to God is a gateway through which His overcoming power is received. Pride is so ingrained in human hearts that we have a common tendency toward self-justification:​

 

[reneweddaybyday]

I like what the author said in his article here:

Ongoing sin that is forensically (legally) forgiven may still be a practical barrier to God’s transforming work in our lives. He desires not only to save us from sin’s guilt but from sin’s presence in our conduct. Believing God forgives sin does not entail our disagreeing with Him about the nature of our sin.

Confessing our faith in God and His saving work does not mean we do not confess that it is wrong when we sin. We should agree with God about all of His truth – even if the truth makes us feel bad at the moment. The Christian life is not an exercise in always feeling good but in always striving to follow Jesus.

I believe that when we are born again, all our sins committed up to that point are forgiven. However, we sometimes stumble and fall into sin after we are born again. At that point, we are to confess to God.

So, I believe we receive forgiveness when we confess our sins to God:

1 John 1:8-10 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. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.


As far as overcoming sin, we overcome through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

We do not have it in ourselves to overcome the lusts of our flesh. Only through the Lord Jesus Christ do we have the strength to prevail.

Hebrews 12 1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Sin easily besets us. When we become weak and wearied in our minds, we consider Him (our Lord Jesus Christ). He will help us as we strive against sin. We overcome sin only in and through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

I like what the author said in his article here:

Yeah I liked that, too.

 

[jasonj]

Here's another article by this guy. This one's much shorter. I was surprised and delighted to see that he says what I've said for a long time: acknowledgment of sin (or at least that we are sinful creatures, or are blind) is the doorway into the sheepfold.

link > Overcoming Sin by Confessing it to God | Apologetics Index

Confession of sin to God is a gateway through which His overcoming power is received. Pride is so ingrained in human hearts that we have a common tendency toward self-justification:​

amen good stuff, God bless you

 

[crossnote]

Here's another article by this guy. This one's much shorter. I was surprised and delighted to see that he says what I've said for a long time: acknowledgment of sin (or at least that we are sinful creatures, or are blind) is the doorway into the sheepfold.

link > Overcoming Sin by Confessing it to God | Apologetics Index

Confession of sin to God is a gateway through which His overcoming power is received. Pride is so ingrained in human hearts that we have a common tendency toward self-justification:​

As you know I am all for Christians confessing our sins but it should be remembered it is God at work in us bringing us to that place of repentance. Glory would go to Him and not our 'confessing' sin to overcome sin.

 

[Grace777x70]

Here is a thread talking about sin confession "in order to receive forgiveness"....are we forgiven for all sin?....or just for the sin we remember to ask for forgiveness. It'll bless us to know the truth behind Jesus' magnificent finished work on our behalf.

Hearing the truth about Jesus and what He did for us - overcomes sin.


http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...-forgiveness-rebuilding-veil-jesus-broke.html

 

[crossnote]

link > Overcoming Sin by Confessing it to God | Apologetics Index

​

Love the quote by Cowper...

"Faults in the life breed errors in the brain,
And these reciprocally those again.

The mind and conduct mutually imprint
And stamp their image in each other’s mint."

...quite a poet and hymn writer.

 

[GracethroughfaithinChrist]

Romans 5:18-21
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:1-10
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

are we forgiven for all sin?....or just for the sin we remember to ask for forgiveness.

I understand your point.

I do believe Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient for all sins committed by all from Adam to present to future.

I also believe that when I stumble, I break fellowship with Father (I turn from Him … He does not turn from me). I can feel it as the Spirit moves within to bring me back. I do not believe there is anything wrong with acknowledging to Father that I have stumbled. He then helps me and shows me where I strayed so that I can recognize pitfalls and avoid them in the future. And I know that it is God Who works all in all. It is God Who keeps me on the path, but I've also got to be careful of those snares placed in my path.

If I wrong you, I do not believe there is anything amiss in my coming to you, acknowledging that I wronged you, and apologizing for having done so. I know you would find it in your heart to forgive me and the fellowship between you and me would be restored.

 

[Grace777x70]

I understand your point.

I do believe Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient for all sins committed by all from Adam to present to future.

I also believe that when I stumble, I break fellowship with Father (I turn from Him … He does not turn from me). I can feel it as the Spirit moves within to bring me back. I do not believe there is anything wrong with acknowledging to Father that I have stumbled. He then helps me and shows me where I strayed so that I can recognize pitfalls and avoid them in the future. And I know that it is God Who works all in all. It is God Who keeps me on the path, but I've also got to be careful of those snares placed in my path.

If I wrong you, I do not believe there is anything amiss in my coming to you, acknowledging that I wronged you, and apologizing for having done so. I know you would find it in your heart to forgive me and the fellowship between you and me would be restored.

I agree...I love to go to my Father when I have sinned.

( the breaking of fellowship is in our own minds - it doesn't exist....sin is deceitful and distorts our view of God and of ourselves )

I acknowledge them all the time..I say " Father that was a sin..that was not who I am in Christ. Thank you for the blood of your Son and my Lord Jesus that took away my sin..I thank you that Jesus is my righteousness!..He is my holiness!..I love you!"

The Holy Spirit convicts/convinces me I am the righteousness of God in Him.

We can talk to our Lord in whatever manner we want. But I believe we need to honor what His Son has done for us by "confessing" the truth of His finished work for us!

The other part is when you see how horrid it really is when we mess up....sin....transgress.... whatever term you want to use. ...what I see is my unbelief in the goodness and love of my Father and Lord Jesus for me. That is the horrid part because I know that is not Their character.

All sin is trying to get things by ourselves apart from God's provision.

I love to kneel quickly and tell my Father how I trust in Him..how what I did was wrong..sometimes I use the word sin..sometimes I don't..I think that is irrelevant...I run to my Father and tell Him how that His Son..my Lord is my life..my righteousness,..Jesus Blood has secured my redemption and forgiveness of sins....I confess what God says about me...I tell Him I love Him and trust in Him...

You know ...He always loves on me and tells me He loves me and that He is my life and strength. Sometimes I have felt a warm liquid like feeling of pure love fall on me..and I just sit there in His presence and weep..I can't move a muscle..He is so mighty in power yet His love is the most overwhelming aspect of His presence.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

As you know I am all for Christians confessing our sins but it should be remembered it is God at work in us bringing us to that place of repentance. Glory would go to Him and not our 'confessing' sin to overcome sin.

No offense, but I don't get hung up on such things. For me it's easy: speaking the truth heals.

 

[oldethennew]

it's always about God working in us, but never let us forget, that because of His calling us and
because of our obedient responding to His calling, we will reap what He sows in us from
morning to night...

 

[reneweddaybyday]

( the breaking of fellowship is in our own minds - it doesn't exist....sin is deceitful and distorts our view of God and of ourselves )

The definition of the Greek word for sin (hamartia) is to miss the mark; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

When we leave His presence, we leave fullness of joy and pleasures. We can feel it in the very depths of our being.

Thank God He always brings us back to Himself or we would wander aimlessly in the muck and mire of this world.

All sin is trying to get things by ourselves apart from God's provision.

Truth! The devil sold Eve a pack of lies and she fell for it.

Jesus showed us how to respond to the tactics of the devil. All of the temptations placed before Jesus were attempts to get Him to provide for Himself rather than rely solely on Father's provision for Him.

I love the words it is written. Nothing more powerful than that when it comes to prevailing against the lies of satan. I think about how the only way satan has to hurt God is by going after His children. That's why it is imperative for us to know Scripture ... so we can recognize the lies satan places in our path to try to get us to fall.

 

[crossnote]

Pro 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

 

[Grace777x70]

The definition of the Greek word for sin (hamartia) is to miss the mark; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

When we leave His presence, we leave fullness of joy and pleasures. We can feel it in the very depths of our being.

Thank God He always brings us back to Himself or we would wander aimlessly in the muck and mire of this world.




Truth! The devil sold Eve a pack of lies and she fell for it.

Jesus showed us how to respond to the tactics of the devil. All of the temptations placed before Jesus were attempts to get Him to provide for Himself rather than rely solely on Father's provision for Him.

I love the words it is written. Nothing more powerful than that when it comes to prevailing against the lies of satan. I think about how the only way satan has to hurt God is by going after His children. That's why it is imperative for us to know Scripture ... so we can recognize the lies satan places in our path to try to get us to fall.

Amen...well said!

Yes, the Lord is always faithful to us to call to us that He is still here for us.

We never leave His presence in our inner man where Christ, the Father and the Holy Spirit dwell. We think we have been removed because of the deceitfulness of sin which distorts our minds to the truth.

There is a manifested presence of God which is very heavy ( well in my experience anyway - His love is the most overpowering aspect of His presence - even more then His tangible power )

It's funny to me when thinking about confessing sins - we usually don't really confess the real sin.

Let's say I steal a loaf of bread. Stealing is a sin but it is really a fruit of the real sin - which is my failure to believe my Father will provide for me , so I'm taking things into my own hands.

 

[oldethennew]

HEB. 3:6.
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast
the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

It's funny to me when thinking about confessing sins - we usually don't really confess the real sin.

Let's say I steal a loaf of bread. Stealing is a sin but it is really a fruit of the real sin - which is my failure to believe my Father will provide for me , so I'm taking things into my own hands.

Right. We need to remove all the "covering" when we go to God and just tell Him we're sorry we left Him. That's all we do when we fall short --- we leave Him and venture out on our own (as if we could ever provide for ourselves). And when we do leave Him, He still covers us with His grace as we flounder about in obscurity.

God is so faithful. I just love Him!

I thought about this verse ---

Pslam 51:16-17 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

When I confess my shortcomings to God, I come with a broken and contrite heart. That is all He wants from me. He does not want me to make excuses or blame others ... just own up to what I've done and get on with life so He can again work in me and through me to reach others who so desperately need Him.

 

[crossnote]

Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to Thee, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And Thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin. Selah.

 

[psalm6819]

Jesus is my Savior everyday, not a Savior one day and a condemner the next.

I don't think it's about listing/confessing every single day every single sin (whatsoever is not of faith is sin)

How could anyone possibly keep track????

but acknowledging everyday that I've missed the mark and need Him.