[chette777]

I would like to see what you all think about this please take poll and give a response. if we sin and seeing our sins are forgiven should we confess them or not?

[tonybones2112]

Originally Posted by chette777

I would like to see what you all think about this please take poll and give a response. if we sin and seeing our sins are forgiven should we confess them or not?

Chette, when Jesus Christ died on Calvary for your sins, and before He died he looked forward in time at your birth, your life, and your death, tell me something: At that time that He suffered for your sins and died for them, how many of them were still future?

Grace and peace brother

Tony

[chette777]

I am seeing where everyone stands on this issue. if you go to the forum on the lord's supper you will know why I am seeking to find out.

you didn't take the poll. I ask that all take the poll and place a comment. if you don't take the poll don't comment. I left a poll slot for you who don't want to say yes or no it is other

[BornAgainBibleBeliever514]

I voted yes.
I confess my sins to God as the Spirit convicts me of them.
I do not do this for salvation whatsoever, I already have that.
Some here have misunderstood another post I made about confession and fellowship with God. I guess I have a hard time expressing myself, and not enough time to make perfect posts, given that I am at the office... that's not an excuse, just a reason.

Confession doesn't alter my position in Christ, it doesn't add to my salvation.
What it does is draws me closer to Him. Like a father correcting his son, when the son admits he is wrong, and seeks to make changes towards the right guidance of the father, it brings the two closer together. I've experienced this with my earthly, physical father, and moreso with my heavenly Father as well.

I would like to quote part of Winman's post from the Lord's Supper thread, which accurately depicts my own belief:

The simple fact is, we can and do grieve the Holy Spirit of God, and carrying around habitual sin without confessing it and putting it away is not a good place to be. These sins can not change our blessed position in God's family, but they can still have grave consequences in our daily lives and rob us of our joy. It seems to me that the idea of "fellowship" is part of this passage...

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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." I John 1:6-7

It seems to me the context is God's children and sin...

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" I John 2:1

I agree and rejoice with you 100% that positionally we are justified and "it is finished." However, we cannot confuse our positional forgiveness with the need for ongoing forgiveness and cleansing as we stumble in sin. Christians are still quite capable of any sin you can imagine; and that's why the writer of Ephesians mentions putting away bitterness, wrath, and anger, evil speaking etc. and tells his readers to "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

When I got born again, ALL my sins were forgiven, past present and future, no doubt or question about that.
However, although sin is not imputed to me, I still sin in the flesh. Although I am passed from death into life, from condemnation into eternal life, there is still a penalty to pay for sin here in this present life (examples: 1Ti 3:6, 1 Cor 5:5, 1 Tim 19-20?).
The penalty is often in the form of detriment to your own spiritual growth, and sometimes hinders blessings from the Lord in the believer's life, or there are practical consequences in our lives, none of which changes our eternal destiny.
If I leave my sin unconfessed, it hinders me from a close fellowship, and makes it easier and easier to slip further into more sin. The more I am humble, convicted, contrite and even chastened, the closer I can be with Him.
Just like when I was a child: if I'd done something wrong against my parents, I would feel guilty, and would avoid them until the thing came out in the open and was dealt with. I couldn't fully enjoy the presence of the parent until my guilty conscience was dealt with.

Just like the adage: "Sin will keep you from the Book, but the Book will keep you from sin!"


Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

[kns215]

I voted yes with the same reason as BABB514's!

[CKG]

While we may examine ourselves to make sure we take the Lord’s supper worthily (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) and to see whether we’re in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) it is God who searches the hearts.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-28)

…..all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)

And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9)

Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (Psalm 44:21)

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. (Psalm 139:1)

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (Psalm 139:23)

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10)

If you have sin in your life the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you

[Forrest]

Born Again BELIEVER wrote: When I got born again, ALL my sins were forgiven, past present and future, no doubt or question about that.

Why then do you confess your sins if they are forgiven, past, present, and future? Don't say to restore your fellowship with God unless you can give the clear scripture that backs up your claim.

[tonybones2112]

Originally Posted by chette777

I am seeing where everyone stands on this issue. if you go to the forum on the lord's supper you will know why I am seeking to find out.

you didn't take the poll. I ask that all take the poll and place a comment. if you don't take the poll don't comment. I left a poll slot for you who don't want to say yes or no it is other

Well brother, I voted in the poll and my comment is there is no Scripture saying we confess sins that have already been forgiven. Confession of any kind to anybody is a work.

Lev. 5:1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

Ps 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Being outside the Commonwealth of Israel and having received free grace and forgiveness of sin apart from the works of the Law, all my sins past, present, and future have been foregiven.

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Speaking practically, there are many Christians who have sin in their own lives they refuse to acknowledge because they can't accept their sin or they enjoy it too much, let alone "confess". In 99 percent of cases you can pick these Christians out becasue they are always the most active in pointing out your "sins", or what they interpret to be sin.

Ro 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

As Christians today we have one "confession":

Mt 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Ac 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Why do I have to confess sins that have not been imputed unto me?

Grace and peace brother

Tony

[BornAgainBibleBeliever514]

I'm still studying dispensationalism, reading three books (after I have done my scripture reading), and havn't come across expositions for rightly dividing 1st John ch 1 yet.
I generally understand that a hyper will usually lump Heb-Rev as non-Church Age entirely. Honest dispensationalist will have to admit that there are sections in Hebrews, James, I John and others that should be applied as Church-Age.

My question to Tony is, how do you prove that 1st John chapter 1 does not apply to the church today?
I understand your logic in stating that ALL past and future sins are forgiven entirely at Church-Age saving regeneration, and I agree with that. I also agree that in other dispensations, confession is part of salvation, however not in the Church-Age.
I also understand that we are not confessing continually to get more saved, or maintain salvation either. What most of us here seem to be saying is that confession is something that should be ongoing in the believer's walk after salvation, for spiritual growth.

Another question for Tony (take your time): In your personal walk with God, when you sin, even habitually, how do you approach God with it? Knowing that the sin is not imputed on your account (Ps 32:2, Rm 4:8, Rm 5:13), is there any point whatsoever in even talking to him about it?
And if you do talk to him about it, perhaps asking for help to battle it, doesn't merely acknowledging it to God constitute a confession?

One more thought:
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

A Church-Age believer understands that all their sins have already been forgiven, yet there are numerous doctrinally Church-Age admonitions to refrain from sin. Also that "grieve not the Holy Spirit" from Ephesians 4:30 indicates there is a consequence to our sin, even though its not imputed unto us eternally.
Perhaps 1Jn 1:9 is an affirmation to the born-again believer of the promise of God towards His forgiveness. I personally know that that verse encourages me to bring my recent sins to Him in prayer. Rather than wallow in guilt, the conviction of sin drives me TO God in prayer, rather than FROM him in shame. Each time I confess and ask for help with it, then employ His help in turning from the sin which convicts me, I draw closer and stronger in my walk with him.

I hope this post made some sense, and is understood to be sincere.

[greenbear]

Tony,

Our walk with the Lord in our earthly bodies is not the same thing as our position in Him in heavenly places. Do you see no role for sanctification of the believer? I think you have such a neat and tidy dispensational framework that you rely on so exclusively that you don't allow yourself to see the real world and the real spiritual world. I see your love for the saints and for the lost and your kindness and your knowledge of scripture but for some reason you are blind in this area, in my opinion.

Jen