Sin Confession: A Waste of Breath?

[PJW]

No because religion and legalism is everywhere. Even believers can fall back into a works mentality after they have been saved by grace through faith. It's a daily discipline to stay in faith and not works for the love and approval and attention of God.

Manifesting the works of the flesh shows you are not a believer...or you would have believed..."[FONT=&quot]There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13)[/FONT]

Many verses have already been shared about this beginning by faith and getting bound up in working again. Galatians 3:3

[SUP]3 [/SUP]Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?
I think what happens too is the world the flesh and the devil will always seek to weaken our belief in the consistency of God's love for us IN Christ. Always trying to diminish that great love in which He loves us.
When we allow those 3., world...flesh...devil to distort a clear view of Jesus we can be defeated and discouraged.

You are confusing the "works" of the Mosaic law with simple obedience to God.
Or are you saying that obedience is optional?

We are not of this world anymore. We have God's heart in all matters and we see this by faith. But if we don't believe and have faith that He loves us and we ARE beloved., we won't walk in the victory Jesus already won and gave us.
Even when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness the devil didn't repeat to Jesus that He was God's son in Whom God was well pleased. No., the tactic was "IF" you are the Son of God. Trying to place doubt on who Jesus is and also failing to mention God was well pleased with His Son.

You are in error.
It is written..."[FONT=&quot]And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were [/FONT]judged every man according to their works." (Rev 20:13)

 

[MarcR]

Who did that? I haven't brought that subject up. I was trying to figure out where you stood, because there are some in the BDF who aren't clear on what they believe.

I wasn't accusing you I was just giving you my basic outlook since you asked.

 

[PJW]

It takes faith to be able to dare to let go of the dependence of our works and allow ourselves to fall into the finished work of Jesus. It reminds me of a ship being built on the docks. There comes a time where we have to allow those ropes of depending on ourselves and to be disentangled from the works we are familiar with and drop them into the water and allow ourselves to fall into the water with "no strings attached" knowing Jesus is going to keep us a float and will not allow us stumble but instead to sail through life by His Spirit.

This word picture is what comes to my mind. It's an act of faith to let go of our control. And in actuality., give it over to the Lord on every level.

Wouldn't that end up with a life without sin?
Yes, it would!
I mean...He's in control.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Once we have been ''saved'' it is a finished work that JESUS accomplished

Being repentant does not add anything to HIS "FINISHED" work.

IF you add anything to HIS "FINISHED" work you make it void !!!

You have a very serious misconception about repentance. Repentance is not adding to the finished work of Christ but ACKNOWLEDGING the finished work of Christ.

1. Did Christ take upon Himself the sin of the world? Absolutely

2. Can sinners be saved without acknowledging their own sinfulness? Absolutely not.

3. Must sinners repent in order to be saved? Absolutely.

4. Does not repentance then mean one has acknowledged the finished work of Christ, which was to take away the sin of the world? Absolutely.

5. Can saints sin, and do they sin, after they are saved? Absolutely

6. Must they deal with their present sins according to Scripture? Absolutely

7. Does that not include confession of sins and turning away from those sins? Absolutely

8. Is not turning away from sins repentance? Absolutely

9. Then on what grounds can anyone claim that repentance takes away from the finished work of Christ? None whatsoever.

10. Do we not see from such posts (as quoted) how much spiritual confusions has been sown among Christians?

 

[MattforJesus]

Jesus' finished work was to save us,and once He saved us then the responsibility falls on us,for we still have a choice between good and evil,so we have to choose the good before the Spirit will lead us,for God will not twist our arm to live for Him.

Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Faith alone,not saved by works,when we confess Christ.

Faith without works is dead,and a person is justified by works,and not faith alone,charity,love in action,after a person receives the Spirit for the responsibility then falls on them to choose the good,and shun the evil.

Charity is greater than faith,and everything stems from love.

Love does not think an evil thought,and does not sin by the Spirit,and only goes by their needs,and helps people with their needs.

It is not a matter of sinning,for we can be forgiven,although we should abstain from sin,but if they hold unto sin,and neglect the poor,that believe faith alone,will they correct it,which the first,and fifth Church,Jesus said to repent for they lacked works,for to lack works means they did not allow the Spirit to lead them,and they lacked love,so they lacked faith.

There is a lot of people that believe OSAS,and faith alone,that live in sin on a daily basis,which cannot be denied,and if they believe that they cannot abstain from sin,and sin does not affect their relationship with God,which the Bible says by the Spirit they can abstain from sin if they do not want sin,and believe the prosperity Gospel enjoying their wants,then that is contrary to the Bible.

 

[Speak2Me]

No because religion and legalism is everywhere. Even believers can fall back into a works mentality after they have been saved by grace through faith. It's a daily discipline to stay in faith and not works for the love and approval and attention of God.

Those that believe like this considers everyone that disagrees with them a legalist. This is why they say legalism is everywhere, and that a works mentality is the 'falling away' of the last days.
The problem with that is, it's all the doctrinal beliefs that believe in eternal security that are growing like a wildfire, and not legalism.
As anyone can see, this rambling on about legalism is bogus and unfounded. A typical strawman built because without it, nothing they say has any clout.

 

[BillG]

[FONT=&quot]Manifesting the works of the flesh shows you are not a believer...or you would have believed..."[/FONT]There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13)

PJW,

Are you saying here that a believer will not manifest the works of the flesh aka will sin?
If they do then in fact they are not a believer?

 

[oldethennew]

many today feed on the devil's advice, he is very persuasive and full of guile,
a master of counterfeit - the 1000's of denominations twist and shout out,
and there are 1000's that listen, pick, and choose, what suits their own
particular lifestyle best - like lemmings they go, for they don't know
how to think for themselves...

and yes, it takes a little nerve, to stand apart, but to those who do,
Jesus Christ gives a 'new-heart'...always remember, nothing will stand
for goodness' sake, if it doesn't have The Rock for a Foundation...

 

[BillG]

many today feed on the devil's advice, he is very persuasive and full of guile,
a master of counterfeit - the 1000's of denominations twist and shout out,
and there are 1000's that listen, pick, and choose, what suits their own
particular lifestyle best - like lemmings they go, for they don't know
how to think for themselves...

and yes, it takes a little nerve, to stand apart, but to those who do,
Jesus Christ gives a 'new-heart'...always remember, nothing will stand
for goodness' sake, if it doesn't have The Rock for a Foundation...

Not sure I agree with you. Well is say I don’t but maybe I do.
Maybe I have misunderstood what you are saying.

I wouldn’t say believers feed on the devils advice.
Yes he is persuasive, full of guile and a master of counterfeit.
But he is also the master of deception and a liar.

So given that I do not a beleive a believer would feed on the devils advice I do believe that a believer can be lied to.
That being the case if they fall for the lie then it’s truth to them.

I could cite many things that I feel are lies in church today or what believers think.

I will limit to one based on this thread.

”You must confess your sin to be forgiven, if not then it’s not forgiven. That being the case it’s hell for you.

For me the onus is on the individual to seek God for what is true and what are lies.
Not just believe what you are told by a church leader or a fellow Christian.

Paul commended the Bareans for testing what he said with scripture.

I went down this process myself a few years ago.
Boy it was an eye opener and I found it very hard.

Things that I believed as a result of being told or heard in church from 30 years ago up till those few years ago which were ingrained.
Major paradigm shifts in my mind were needed.

Just one of them was when I went forward for prayer because I was really struggling I was asked

”Do you pray in tongues? I said no.
I was the told “Oh that’s evidence that you are not saved, would you like to pray in tongues so you know that you are?
I said no.

But how ridiculous is that?

Think about it.
I was not saved because I didn’t speak in tongues, would I like to so that I know that I am?
Boy did I carry that one for a long long time, this of course then leads other problems, one lie then builds up another one.
The believer then becomes full of guilt, condemnation and basically a wounded soldier in the army of God.

But Think about it. I am not saved because I don’t speak in tongues, so would I like to do so that I know that I am.
Well if I am not saved then I don’t have the Holy Spirit in me, if not and given that tonuges is a gift of the Holy Spirit then obviously I am not saved.

Can anyone spot the lies? Can anyone then see how lies then lead to further lies that a believer can belieive as truth.

So so sad that Christians shoot their own wounded.

I would encourage all believers to seek the truth of God through his word and prayer.
Anything that detracts from what Jesus has done that affects the restored relationship with the Father to actually see if they beileive in lies that need replaced with the truth.

 

[joaniemarie]

Those that believe like this considers everyone that disagrees with them a legalist. This is why they say legalism is everywhere, and that a works mentality is the 'falling away' of the last days.
The problem with that is, it's all the doctrinal beliefs that believe in eternal security that are growing like a wildfire, and not legalism.
As anyone can see, this rambling on about legalism is bogus and unfounded. A typical strawman built because without it, nothing they say has any clout.

Anytime the topic of complete and full salvation is brought up by grace alone through faith alone there are certain people that yell "IT'S A STRAW MAN IT'S A STRAW MAN!! " No., it's not a straw man there are people like me in the thousands who took the religion they were raised in and brought it forward into their faith today.

Because we were raised on "you work good you get good" we have to be daily reminded over and over and over it's not about our works but about Jesus finished work and 100% trust and acknowledgment and reliance on HIM. My requirement in the new covenant is faith. And because of faith., the real works of silver and gold will follow and withstand the heat. The works done in my flesh will burn up like so much wood hay and stubble.

So your straw man argument is not to be applied here. you and some others here need to deal with the issues don't try to kill the messenger. The message is real and a fact for so many Christians that it and they cannot be ignored or ridiculed away. And I won't ignore the truth even though you don't like the message. I don't agree with lot's of people but that doesn't mean they are allll legalists or vs/vs.

Soo........Soorrrriiieeee. I don't care if you don't like it. It's true none the less.

 

[joaniemarie]

Our sins, present, past, and future are forgiven. Our confession is not to secure forgiveness but rather to acknowledge that we should not be comfortable with sin even though it is forgiven. It is also a preamble to asking help in avoiding repetition of our sin.

For the most part I agree with everything in your post except for the "preamble" part. The truth is the believer is not comfortable with their sin no more than a sheep is comfortable wallowing in the mud like a pig. We all have heard that a sheep may fall in for a time but is not joyful there. We have an old manner of life that is being discarded each day we learn and begin walking in newness of life.

Often times as we learn this new way of living by faith., we don't even know our thinking was wrong and holding us back until we start seeing how to walk via faith. So learning to "free-fall" by faith into the love and grace of God IN Christ is the preamble part necessary. And why knowing Romans 8:1 is to be taken very seriously.

I find it amazing that the very thing needed theeee most for our growing faith is the very thing us humans run from and warn others to run from as if it's a false gospel....; Having CONFIDENCE and being CONFIDENT in the love and grace of God in and for us and our lives. Having this confidence.... that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:18 We need a STRONG CONSOLATION., a strong confidence that He will never leave us or forsake us or think bad of us anymore. His love is self motivated and self generated "for" us not because of us.

[SUP]18 [/SUP]This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].


I notice the more we know we are loved unconditionally., the more motivated we are to learn how to love that same way. We are motivated to always run back to Him again and again because we trust Him. And that is actually how the truth works. The more truth we get and start believing the more free we become and more able we become in Christ.

So we can always ask for help because we are loved IN Christ and can always come boldly and find grace and help in time of need. Because of Jesus not because we deserve it based on our behavior or lack of it. And I especially like the way the Amplified Bible puts it... draw near to (not draw back from) the Throne of God's unmerited favor... for our failures and we will find grace and help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
[SUP]
16 [/SUP]Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

 

[Hizikyah]

Yah created us, He knows how we work, ignoring and not confessing sin I blieve leads to a justification of sin in ones life rather than a condemming of sin in ones life.

Romans 2:15, "Who show the work of the Torah written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or even excusing."

Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my crookedness I did not hide. I have said, “I confess my transgressions to יהוה,” And You forgave the crookedness of my sin. Selah.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20, “For there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.”

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."

“confess” is word #G3670 ὁμολογέω homologeo (ho-mo-lo-ǰe'-ō) v.
1. to affirm.
2. to admit, acknowledge.
3. (specially) to confess (guilt).
[from a compound of the base of G3674 and G3056]
KJV: con- (pro-)fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise
Root(s): G3674, G3056

Proverbs 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Leviticus 5:5 , "when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned."

1 John 3:4, "Whoever commits sin, transgresses also the Law; for sin is the transgression of the Law."

1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one Father and one Mediator between the Father and men, the Man Messiah יהושע,”

"Mega preacher" Joseph Prince preaches a doctrine of, "no confession" to the Creator. I personally believe Scripture foretold doctrines like this;

1 Timothy 4:1-2, "Now the Spirit speaks very plainly, that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared as with a hot iron."

sociopath [soh-see-uh-path, soh-shee-]
1. A person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.

Sociopath; A sociopath is a person with a mental illness that manifests in extremely antisocial behavior and the inability to distinguish right from wrong.

Proverbs 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

Leviticus 5:5 , "when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned."

 

[Issachar92]

No because religion and legalism is everywhere. Even believers can fall back into a works mentality after they have been saved by grace through faith. It's a daily discipline to stay in faith and not works for the love and approval and attention of God.

Im glad to hear it doesnt come automatically.
I wish you could see that the works Paul was discussing were works of the law(acts 15:1)and not faith working by love. Faith in action @ hebrews chapter 11
Paul himself preached repentance and not living in sin, so is he also a legalist? He is for sure writing after the death and resurrection of Jesus so why are his writings not applicable? I really wanna know, how do yall get around those clear verses? I havent watched hyper grace preachers enough to know but lemme take a guess: "We dont preach do this and do that, no no thats legalism and phariseeism. We preach grace, God loves you no matter what, you can grow in grace and overcome, identify with Christ who lives inside of you" or whatever. It really is weird to listen to it, its so contrary to what Jesus said, Jesus said the pharisees wasnt obeying the law, they made it of none effect by their own traditions, sounds familiar to a couple of hyper grace preachers for sure! Prime example is this confession in 1 john 1:9. The apostle John said confess, the preachers by their own traditions make the word of God of none effect by saying NOPE; its fine dont confess.
So turns out the legalists werent the ones obeying God after all.

Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:15-18
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

 

[joaniemarie]

Im glad to hear it doesnt come automatically.
I wish you could see that the works Paul was discussing were works of the law(acts 15:1)and not faith working by love. Faith in action @ hebrews chapter 11
Paul himself preached repentance and not living in sin, so is he also a legalist? He is for sure writing after the death and resurrection of Jesus so why are his writings not applicable? I really wanna know, how do yall get around those clear verses? I havent watched hyper grace preachers enough to know but lemme take a guess: "We dont preach do this and do that, no no thats legalism and phariseeism. We preach grace, God loves you no matter what, you can grow in grace and overcome, identify with Christ who lives inside of you" or whatever. It really is weird to listen to it, its so contrary to what Jesus said, Jesus said the pharisees wasnt obeying the law, they made it of none effect by their own traditions, sounds familiar to a couple of hyper grace preachers for sure! Prime example is this confession in 1 john 1:9. The apostle John said confess, the preachers by their own traditions make the word of God of none effect by saying NOPE; its fine dont confess.
So turns out the legalists werent the ones obeying God after all.

Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:15-18
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Paul preached salvation by grace alone through faith alone. Read Romans and be blessed.

[FONT=&quot]I find it amazing that the very thing Paul preached and what is vitally needed needed most for our growing faith is the very thing us humans run from and warn others to run from as if it's a false gospel....; Having CONFIDENCE and being CONFIDENT in the love and grace of God in and for us and our lives. Having this confidence.... that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it till the day of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:18 We need a STRONG CONSOLATION., a strong confidence that He will never leave us or forsake us or think bad of us anymore. His love is self motivated and self generated "for" us not because of us.

[/FONT][SUP]18 [/SUP]This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].[FONT=&quot]


I notice the more we know we are loved unconditionally., the more motivated we are to learn how to love that same way. We are motivated to always run back to Him again and again because we trust Him. And that is actually how the truth works. The more truth we get and start believing the more free we become and more able we become in Christ.

So we can always ask for help because we are loved IN Christ and can always come boldly and find grace and help in time of need. Because of Jesus not because we deserve it based on our behavior or lack of it. And I especially like the way the Amplified Bible puts it... draw near to (not draw back from) the Throne of God's unmerited favor... for our failures and we will find grace and help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
[/FONT][SUP]
16 [/SUP]Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]

 

[joaniemarie]

When we received Jesus Christ as our personal Savior we also received His righteousness as a gift. He gave us the righteousness for which we stand on forever. Our righteous standing lasts as long as Jesus lives. He is not an old covenant high priest who goes to make intercession for the people with sacrifice after sacrifice over and over again. He does not die over and over again. He died "once" And lives forever after the power of an endless life.

Jesus made one single sacrifice and need not go and make anymore. His stands for ever. This teaching about confessing sins to be forgiven (as a believer) in 1 John 1:9 has been taught for many years. But we need to see it in light of the new covenant. Here is part of an article by another Christian writer named Paul Ellis who I've grown to appreciate.

1 John 1:9 – Ask the Right Question

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Paul Ellis // 78 Comments
In many books on grace it is common to find some discussion on 1 John 1:9. This verse is special because it is the only verse in the new covenant that appears to link confession of sins with God’s forgiveness. If this verse was in the old covenant it would be no great thing, but because it’s in the new it stands out.


In his book Pure Grace, Clark Whitten writes:
Whenever the subjects of sin and the need of confession are raised, this verse (1 John 1:9) is universally quoted and trotted out as a proof text. Why? Because there aren’t any others to quote! (p.91)

1 John 1:9 is often used to support a mixed-grace message of conditional forgiveness, as in, “God won’t forgive you unless you review all of your sins.” Naturally this message is incompatible with the words of Jesus, and everything else the new covenant says about forgiveness.
Yet the law and grace preacher will insist from this one verse, that you must confess, if not to be re-forgiven, then at least to restore your relationship with the Lord. He will say things like, “If you sin against your spouse, don’t you confess?” Of course you do, but that’s hardly an argument for conditional forgiveness.


As I have said elsewhere, there’s a difference between healthy and unhealthy confession. Confessing sins is good for you, but only when it’s done with a heart of faith. Sadly, confessing-to-be-forgiven often reflects unbelief or ignorance regarding the finished work of the cross. Instead of making things better, this sort of confession promotes self-trust and frustrates grace.

Do sins need to be confessed to be cleansed?

Much of the debate over 1 John 1:9 hangs on the question of Who is John addressing? Who are the “we” who need to confess their sins? Is John describing unbelievers, as I have said elsewhere? Or is he describing all of us, because we all get dirty from time to time and need to be re-cleansed?

Maybe this is the wrong question. Perhaps we don’t need to get too worked up over who John had in mind when he wrote this verse. We can agree that we all need Jesus to cleanse us from sin and unrighteousness—every single one of us.

A better question is whether Jesus will cleanse us from all sin or only some sin (specifically the sin we confess). Does he cleanse us from all unrighteousness or only some unrighteousness? Here John is unequivocal. Jesus cleanses us from “all unrighteousness” (v.9). The blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross “purifies us from all sin” (v.7). And then, just in case we missed it, John says it a third time:

I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. (1 John 2:12)

 

[joaniemarie]

cont. article by Paul E.

All means all

Jesus doesn’t just deal with the sin of your past, but the sin of your present and future as well. This is great grace! This is the revelation that will empower you to go and sin no more.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. (1 John 2:1a)

Confessing sins will not help you overcome sin, but grace will! We don’t confess to expunge sin, we confess to receive grace. Big difference.

If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. (1 John 2:1b)

The law and grace preacher says, “When you sin, you’d better start talking,” But the apostle John says, “When you sin, Jesus does the talking!”

Why does Jesus talk? Because when you sin the Accuser will accuse you and if no one says anything you’ll end up feeling accused. But listen to the Advocate speaking on your behalf, drawing attention away from your sin and onto his sublime sacrifice, and you’ll feel righteous and clean. You will experience what is already true about you in Christ.


The law and grace preacher says you have a responsibility to deal with your sin. But the gospel declares you have a responsibility to heed the Spirit of Grace as he gently leads you in paths of righteousness. Fact is, you can’t deal with your sin, but grace can!
What is the wrong question?

When you sin there are two questions you can ask. The wrong question is, “What can I do to fix this?” That is the question Adam asked as he reached for the fig leaves. It’s a bad question that will lead to self-trust and death. A better question is, “What has Jesus done to fix this?” and John plainly tells us: He has cleansed us from all unrighteousness!

I hope you can see now that when the law and grace preacher says, “You have to confess to make things right,” he is answering the wrong question. And when John says, “Believe Jesus and have life in his name” (John 20:31), he is answering the right question.

The law and grace preacher says you have to work to make yourself righteous and clean. But John says you need to believe that Christ’s sacrifice cannot be improved upon and that in him you have been eternally cleansed from all unrighteousness.

The problem is you won’t believe if you listen to the Accuser (or the law and grace preacher). Instead, you’ll work to pay the price and do the penance and make yourself clean. Don’t do that, says John:

I write so that you may not sin, but if you do, don’t heed the Accuser; listen to the Advocate! Agree with him and make his words your words. Stop playing the blame game, making excuses, or pretending you can beat this thing. Instead of belly-aching about your imperfections, praise him for his perfections, because that’s where the grace is found – in him!

You want to confess? Then confess this: “By the blood of Jesus I have been cleansed from all unrighteousness. In him I am righteous and free from the power of sin. This is not because of anything I have done, but because of everything he’s done. Thank you, Jesus!


[FONT=&quot]Amen. This is a truth that does not try to mix law and grace. It separates the old covenant from the new. We have to do that in order to understand what the Bible is saying to us today under the new covenant. Because we are not old covenant saints., we are new covenant saints. [/FONT]

 

[Speak2Me]

Anytime the topic of complete and full salvation is brought up by grace alone through faith alone there are certain people that yell "IT'S A STRAW MAN IT'S A STRAW MAN!! " No., it's not a straw man there are people like me in the thousands who took the religion they were raised in and brought it forward into their faith today.

Not thousands, millions. A faith that requires believing only once, and Jesus does all the rest. 2Thess 2 (ESV)
7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Because we were raised on "you work good you get good" we have to be daily reminded over and over and over it's not about our works but about Jesus finished work and 100% trust and acknowledgment and reliance on HIM. My requirement in the new covenant is faith. And because of faith., the real works of silver and gold will follow and withstand the heat. The works done in my flesh will burn up like so much wood hay and stubble.

I don't know who 'raised' you in the faith, but it sounds like they didn't do a good job, and for that, I'm sorry. I wished you had gotten better. But that's no reason to blame the way Jesus taught in the word.

So your straw man argument is not to be applied here. you and some others here need to deal with the issues don't try to kill the messenger. The message is real and a fact for so many Christians that it and they cannot be ignored or ridiculed away. And I won't ignore the truth even though you don't like the message. I don't agree with lot's of people but that doesn't mean they are allll legalists or vs/vs.

Soo........Soorrrriiieeee. I don't care if you don't like it. It's true none the less.

What in the world are you talking about? Who's killing the messenger? Who's jumping on you? I don't see anything of the kind. Honestly, you're behaving like the world is against you when it's not.
The message you believe is real enough, but it's not true.
I really wish you could see the truth for yourself & find real peace in your life. You sound like you haven't had peace in your heart for a while.

 

[Speak2Me]

Here we are in a Bible discussion thread, but instead of quoting scriptures, they're quoting comments that validate a known hypergrace teacher.
Everybody knows these sites are 100% run by the owners who are validating themselves with false comments that are 100% for themselves.
How can you trust a site that doesn't have various opinions in the comments section? There's always a dissenter somewhere.

 

[PJW]

PJW,

Are you saying here that a believer will not manifest the works of the flesh aka will sin?
If they do then in fact they are not a believer?

That is true.
The author of Hebrews writes..."But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39)
There is therefore a difference between those who draw back into perdition and those that believe.

 

[Issachar92]

I notice the more we know we are loved unconditionally., the more motivated we are to learn how to love that same way. We are motivated to always run back to Him again and again because we trust Him. And that is actually how the truth works. The more truth we get and start believing the more free we become and more able we become in Christ.

We tried that for about a hundred years now, did it work?