The qualms of sin confession, ever distancing ourselves from a loving Father. I reference you to this thread http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/120367-obsession-confession-1-john-1-9-sin-confession.html in order to see that sin confession for the believer is unwarranted and unnecessary for the forgiveness of sins (Jesus took care of sin at the cross).
This thread is addressing a particular doctrine of sin confession that comes in agreement with the above statement that sin confession does not grant us forgiveness in our judicial standing with God (I.e, we are justified before God). However this doctrine of sin confession makes a distinction that there is judicial forgiveness and then parental forgiveness, in saying this they are saying that we break fellowship with God when we sin (I.e, alienate Him).
One way its proponents word it is to say, "Sin doesn't break union with Christ, but communion with Him." This thread will attempt to refute this doctrine as it contradicts the Gospel, what Jesus accomplished at the cross and the entire plan of reconciliation. As the title of this thread suggests, it is attempting to rebuild the veil that Jesus tore by His sacrifice at the cross. Lets address this...
To start this we need to get an understanding of what the veil is, and its intended purpose. You may wonder why I am speaking of a veil and so let me tell you, this is a necessary back drop to understand that the plan of reconciliation is for man to enter God's presence (once again, after the Fall). Here are some verses to understand that behind the veil in the temple resided God's presence, it was the Holy of Holies (with the Ark of the Covenant).
Hebrews 9:1-3King James Version (KJV)
9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
The purpose of the veil was to separate sinful man from God, and only the high priest could enter in (to the Holy of Holies).
Isaiah 59:1-2King James Version (KJV)
59 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Hebrews 9:7King James Version (KJV)
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Now, we've established what the veil was, and its purpose (I.e, to separate sinful man from God's presence), and we've also made clear that only the high priest entered. Man still needed reconciliation to God while these things were in place, and these were all but a shadow of the things to come. In comes our High Priest, Jesus Christ. Man being alienated from God because of sin and in the need of saving (and reconciliation) Jesus then goes to the cross all a part of God's plan of reconciliation.
I'm sure most of you reading understand the Gospel and what Jesus did at the cross when He died and then resurrected on the third day. He died to pay the penalty of our sins (death) and sacrificed Himself for us. Something, however, significant happened at this moment. The veil was broken, it was torn!
Matthew 27:50-51King James Version (KJV)
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Remember the purpose of the veil, to separate sinful man from God. It being torn is significant! Jesus paid for our sins (even the world's sin as He is the propitiation for the sins of the world; not Universalism but all inclusive, as in all are invited) and in doing this He has eliminated the factor by which we were alienated from God. Sin has been dealt with, forever. Here are some verses to back that claim up...
Hebrews 10:10-18King James Version (KJV)
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
There is a lot said in those verses above. There are more but those paint it so clearly. Sin has been dealt with for "where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Jesus took away our sin! Even the idea of sin confession goes contrary to this, because if these sins have experienced remission what more is there to say? There is no more offering for sin, its been dealt with.
Hebrews 7:23-27King James Version (KJV)
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
It is clear. Jesus did one sacrifice for sins forever, He is our High Priest ever interceding on our behalf, and sin has been dealt with. Unlike the priests before Him, He is eternal and His sacrifice was Himself and it isn't something to be repeated again and again (making it common) but He did it once and took care of sin forever.
Lets take a moment to tie everything together before we continue. Jesus took care of the issue that separated man from God in obedience to God's plan of reconciliation. Jesus in dying on the cross and paying sin's penalty tore the veil (it signified that which separated man is broken, restoration has been made). Access to God's presence is now available, not through the temple's veil or man made temple but through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-20King James Version (KJV)
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
Reconciliation has been made and it is through God's Son Jesus Christ and the issue of sin has been dealt with having received remission through the blood of Jesus Christ. Sin doesn't break fellowship or communion with God because it has been dealt with by the blood of Jesus. The very issue of alienation was due to sin and that is precisely why Christ went to the cross. Did Jesus fail in His mission? Of course not, and that is why we may have boldness to enter into the holiest, to enter into God's presence without fear or judgement. Praise Jesus!
To summarize, the doctrine of sin confession that argues for parental forgiveness is false, a lie. It is not the truth because it denies what Christ accomplished at the cross. He took care of what alienated man from God (sin). He paid the price and set us free and through Him He gave us access to the Father's presence. As I read some time ago, "Jesus tore the veil and religion is trying to sow it back up." Sin confession is religion in action, it is man trying to reach God by some other means than Jesus Christ. It is putting some middle man in between God and you instead of simply trusting in the finished work of the cross. Sin confession is not the means to reconciliation, Jesus is and He did it at the cross of Calvary. The veil is broken and God is waiting for you, not to come ashamed but washed in the blood of Jesus boldly coming before Him by His grace and love.
1 John 3:20-21King James Version (KJV)
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
This thread is addressing a particular doctrine of sin confession that comes in agreement with the above statement that sin confession does not grant us forgiveness in our judicial standing with God (I.e, we are justified before God). However this doctrine of sin confession makes a distinction that there is judicial forgiveness and then parental forgiveness, in saying this they are saying that we break fellowship with God when we sin (I.e, alienate Him).
One way its proponents word it is to say, "Sin doesn't break union with Christ, but communion with Him." This thread will attempt to refute this doctrine as it contradicts the Gospel, what Jesus accomplished at the cross and the entire plan of reconciliation. As the title of this thread suggests, it is attempting to rebuild the veil that Jesus tore by His sacrifice at the cross. Lets address this...
To start this we need to get an understanding of what the veil is, and its intended purpose. You may wonder why I am speaking of a veil and so let me tell you, this is a necessary back drop to understand that the plan of reconciliation is for man to enter God's presence (once again, after the Fall). Here are some verses to understand that behind the veil in the temple resided God's presence, it was the Holy of Holies (with the Ark of the Covenant).
Hebrews 9:1-3King James Version (KJV)
9 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
The purpose of the veil was to separate sinful man from God, and only the high priest could enter in (to the Holy of Holies).
Isaiah 59:1-2King James Version (KJV)
59 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Hebrews 9:7King James Version (KJV)
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Now, we've established what the veil was, and its purpose (I.e, to separate sinful man from God's presence), and we've also made clear that only the high priest entered. Man still needed reconciliation to God while these things were in place, and these were all but a shadow of the things to come. In comes our High Priest, Jesus Christ. Man being alienated from God because of sin and in the need of saving (and reconciliation) Jesus then goes to the cross all a part of God's plan of reconciliation.
I'm sure most of you reading understand the Gospel and what Jesus did at the cross when He died and then resurrected on the third day. He died to pay the penalty of our sins (death) and sacrificed Himself for us. Something, however, significant happened at this moment. The veil was broken, it was torn!
Matthew 27:50-51King James Version (KJV)
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Remember the purpose of the veil, to separate sinful man from God. It being torn is significant! Jesus paid for our sins (even the world's sin as He is the propitiation for the sins of the world; not Universalism but all inclusive, as in all are invited) and in doing this He has eliminated the factor by which we were alienated from God. Sin has been dealt with, forever. Here are some verses to back that claim up...
Hebrews 10:10-18King James Version (KJV)
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
There is a lot said in those verses above. There are more but those paint it so clearly. Sin has been dealt with for "where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Jesus took away our sin! Even the idea of sin confession goes contrary to this, because if these sins have experienced remission what more is there to say? There is no more offering for sin, its been dealt with.
Hebrews 7:23-27King James Version (KJV)
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
It is clear. Jesus did one sacrifice for sins forever, He is our High Priest ever interceding on our behalf, and sin has been dealt with. Unlike the priests before Him, He is eternal and His sacrifice was Himself and it isn't something to be repeated again and again (making it common) but He did it once and took care of sin forever.
Lets take a moment to tie everything together before we continue. Jesus took care of the issue that separated man from God in obedience to God's plan of reconciliation. Jesus in dying on the cross and paying sin's penalty tore the veil (it signified that which separated man is broken, restoration has been made). Access to God's presence is now available, not through the temple's veil or man made temple but through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-20King James Version (KJV)
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh
Reconciliation has been made and it is through God's Son Jesus Christ and the issue of sin has been dealt with having received remission through the blood of Jesus Christ. Sin doesn't break fellowship or communion with God because it has been dealt with by the blood of Jesus. The very issue of alienation was due to sin and that is precisely why Christ went to the cross. Did Jesus fail in His mission? Of course not, and that is why we may have boldness to enter into the holiest, to enter into God's presence without fear or judgement. Praise Jesus!
To summarize, the doctrine of sin confession that argues for parental forgiveness is false, a lie. It is not the truth because it denies what Christ accomplished at the cross. He took care of what alienated man from God (sin). He paid the price and set us free and through Him He gave us access to the Father's presence. As I read some time ago, "Jesus tore the veil and religion is trying to sow it back up." Sin confession is religion in action, it is man trying to reach God by some other means than Jesus Christ. It is putting some middle man in between God and you instead of simply trusting in the finished work of the cross. Sin confession is not the means to reconciliation, Jesus is and He did it at the cross of Calvary. The veil is broken and God is waiting for you, not to come ashamed but washed in the blood of Jesus boldly coming before Him by His grace and love.
1 John 3:20-21King James Version (KJV)
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
