The Lord's Prayer = Forgiving others in order to be forgiven (this isn't sin confession).
1 John 1:9 = Confess your sins in order to be forgiven (with a misunderstanding of the verse).
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People point out the Lord's prayer as a source for sin confession, but it isn't even about confessing sin. Its about receiving forgiveness, and only on that count does it merit consideration in this discussion of total forgiveness. It does not, however, come in agreement with sin confession for forgiveness, its another matter entirely.
The Lord's prayer suggests a formula for receiving forgiveness from God, and that formula is that we receive forgiveness from the Father dependent upon our forgiveness of other's trespasses towards us. Now, consider these verses of the Lord's prayer (and formula) in relation to everything we can glean from Hebrews of the total forgiveness of sin we have, how sin is dealt with through bloodshed, and Jesus as our High Priest able to save us completely since He has an eternal priesthood. There seems to be a contradiction, and for this reason, it needs to be resolved.
I want to reemphasize, the Lord's prayer is not about sin confession (nor is it a supporting argument for it). It is however a presented avenue of receiving forgiveness that contradicts (seemingly) the forgiveness we have because of Jesus Christ. How can this be resolved? What are we missing?
Well, I would poise a few questions to you. Are we saved by grace through faith, or works? Do we find in the New Testament, past Jesus' death and resurrection,
any mention of forgiving others in order to receive forgiveness? And finally, did Jesus fail to obtain for us forgiveness by the shedding of His blood? Lets take a look at these questions and their implications.
Are we saved by grace through faith or works? How is this relevant to the discussion? Well, forgiveness has been obtained through faith in Jesus Christ, right? How then under the New Covenant must we forgive others in order to receive forgiveness when it is something that has already been granted? Now consider this, think upon it.
If our forgiveness is dependent upon our willingness to forgive others, then salvation is not by grace through faith, but by works. Works being an effort of our own, and that is our willingness to forgive others. Salvation at this point is a wage due and not a free gift because I, personally, met God's criteria of forgiving others so that I would be forgiven. Is Jesus truly my savior when my forgiveness lies in my hands?
Secondly, do we find
any mention
whatsoever of the necessity to forgive others in order to receive forgiveness from the Father, after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (the beginning of the new covenant)? No, on the contrary we find exactly the opposite.
Ephesians 4:32 King 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.
Colossians 3:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Please note that we have been, past tense, forgiven and for this reason we ought to forgive. The Lord's prayer says to forgive in order to receive forgiveness, the new covenant post Jesus' death and resurrection says to forgive because you have been forgiven. It is ours, not something we earn. Which we now go to the final question and point.
Did Jesus fail to obtain for us the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of His blood? Well, what does the Word of God says about sin and how it experiences remission?
Hebrews 9:22 King James Version (KJV)
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 10:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
We see then that forgiveness of sin is dependent upon bloodshed and it is through Christ's sacrifice that our sin experienced remission/forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:10-14 King 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.
The implication of these verses is that we are forgiven, Jesus' sacrifice is sufficient and through His bloodshed our sins have experienced remission. How does scripture say we, if you will, apply this to our account? By faith. We believe the Gospel, believe God's account of His Son and the redemptive plan of salvation.
These three questions led us to what conclusion? Our forgiveness is through Jesus Christ as He shed His blood for the remission of our sins, that our salvation is not of our own doing but is by grace through faith (and so our forgiveness is by the Lord, not our willingness to forgive others), and Jesus was, indeed, successful in His mission to reconcile us to the Father. We also see that no where after Jesus died and resurrected and the new covenant was put in place that our forgiveness is dependent upon our willingness to forgive others, rather our forgiveness of others is encouraged by the reality of the forgiveness we have from God for Christ's sake. Amen, hallelujah!