If Jesus died for our sins, then why do we have to confess sins?
· "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1.9).
How to get the forgiveness of Christ if He ever forgave us on the cross? ·
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1.7).
Firstly, it is necessary to understand the meaning of the word "confess". Confess means “to proclaim”. Understood this, the best way to proclaim that we are sinners (we confess our sins) is walking in the light, because that is where it becomes evident who we really are and who Jesus is. The more Jesus manifests, the more it becomes evident who we really are (sinners) and who Jesus is. The true manifestation of Christ did not exalt who we are but who Christ really is.
· "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1.3).
Notice that Jesus purifies us by himself (and not by their deeds).
· "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2.2).
· "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4.10).
The only thing that can offer to the Eternal One (to appease their wrath, so that He will be favorable to us) is our body so that Jesus alive in us (Rom 12.1; 2Cor 4.10,11). After all, He is the propitiation for our sins (it is not what we do, nor what He did in the past). Comes the question: but what then means verses like: ·
"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." (I John 3.5).
· "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (I Peter 2.24).
In fact, what Jesus did was to live the law of the Old Testament that was given for the condemnation of our sins (2Cor 3.7,9). Jesus didn’t forgive all our sins on the cross. He just showed where the self-justification of man by means of laws leads and what the result. Understand: · The life of Jesus here on earth is to show us the one in whom we can trust, as well as the life style that really overcomes the sin, the world and Ha--Satan. He is the only life capable of obedience to the Father until to death (Phil 1.5-8) and therefore, to rid someone of sin. · The death of Christ reveals the seriousness of our sins, as well as the conviction that there is in the Old Covenant because of our sins (Romans 7.13); · The resurrection of Jesus, on the other hand, is that frees us from sin: ·
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Rom 4.25)
· "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15.17)
· "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2.38);
To be more accurate: what saved the individuals before Christ was the fact of hearing His voice. If this was true in the Old Testament, today, then, there isn’t doubt:
· "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Gal 3.24,25).
The law was just to make clear that, without Jesus, nor the best man in the world can be saved. However, only with Jesus is that came true faith (1 Peter 2.21), grace and truth (John 1.17).
· "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" (1 Peter 2.21).
· "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1.17).