HomeThis is a longer one, but worth it! 
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
- When you fellowship with God, do you confess your sins to Him and ask for His forgiveness?
- Do you do it every time you pray?
- Do you feel guilty if you don’t confess and seek forgiveness?
- Do you think you have to do this every day?
- Do you make a list of every single sin you committed in a day and ask forgiveness for each one or is it a more general confessing and asking?
- How do you do it? Do you acknowledge what you did wrong, say sorry, ask forgiveness and then feel that God is happy with you again?
- Why? Were you taught to do it?
- If so, did you check to see if what you were taught was true or did you just swallow it hook line and sinker?
- Is confession and asking forgiveness your idea of repentance?
Did you answer ‘yes’ to a few of these questions? If you did, you really need to read the further and answer a few more questions for your own benefit.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin. (NKJV)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if God didn’t impute our sin to us? We wouldn’t need to confess or ask forgiveness anymore if God stopped holding our sins against us. We would be blessed for sure as this verse says. But God is a just and righteous judge, so it is wouldn’t be possible for Him to not count our sins against us, right? Wrong!
2 Cor 5:19 that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, (NKJV)
It seems like God isn’t imputing our sins to us if we are in Christ. Now if He is not holding our sins against us, are we blessed as Romans 4:8 says? Of course. So what sins do you need to confess if God is not charging you with any of them?
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (NKJV)
So Jesus is the end of the law of righteousness, the end of the measure of right standing before God based on a person’s moral performance, a person’s ability to keep the law. If He ended the law, meaning it is not applicable any longer, why should I keep measuring myself according to it? Easy, I shouldn’t and I don’t.
Rom 4:15 the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. (NKJV)
Rom 5:13 For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law (NKJV)
Many people believe when we sin we deserve God’s wrath because we broke His laws. But sin is only sin if there is a measure that defines what it is. That measure was the law and it has come to an end. Where there is no law, no transgressions are counted against us. If no transgressions are imputed, there is no need to confess them since there aren’t any to confess. If there aren’t any sins held against us that we need to confess, we also don’t need to worry about God’s wrath. There is only wrath when transgressions are counted. If no sin is counted against you, you also do not need to ask forgiveness. But how can all this be? How can God just end the law and not count people’s sins against them any longer?
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NKJV)
Jesus was made into sin for you. God counted every single wretched vile sin of every single person throughout time and history against Jesus. All the wicked rebellious sin of the entre world was tied together in one person in one place at one time and that gave God the opportunity to punish all sin in one go. All the wrath God had against all the sin of the entire human race, was poured out completely on Jesus and He was put to death.
Heb 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (NKJV)
One sacrifice paid for all sins FOREVER. So if it is paid for, it is dealt with. How many of your sins were included in sins Jesus died for? All of them? If you said yes, then don’t you think God knew every sin you would ever commit and remembered to count all of them against Jesus? If He already counted your sin against Jesus and poured out His wrath, then He doesn’t need to do the same thing for you. If He counts your sin against you and Jesus, then Jesus died for nothing. Since He doesn’t count them against us, stop trying to count them against yourself by confessing them to God.
At the point of salvation, we merely accepted and believed that Christ took our punishment already. When we believed that, we were reborn and created as new beings. We were made the righteousness of God in Christ. All our unrighteousness was taken away and we now have the same right standing before God as Jesus has. How can that be? Because when Jesus became sin for us, the righteousness He had from perfectly keeping the law, was given as a free gift to all mankind.
Rom 5:18-19 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. (NKJV)
In light of this, let us look again at 1 John 1:9.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
Have you been cleansed from all unrighteousness? Yes. So if you have been cleansed, does that mean you have been forgiven? Logically, yes. If you were forgiven, when did you confess your sins? The day you said, “Jesus, I can’t do this. I trust You to save me.” That was your confession. Now that you know God doesn’t count your sins against you anymore, you can also stop counting them. God did His job perfectly. Just trust Him.
But what about sinning again after salvation? That doesn’t change the fact that ALL your sins were forgiven already. You don’t need to confess “new” sins. When you do, all you are saying is that God apparently forgot to count those ones against Jesus. Since Jesus isn’t going to die again, you have a problem if God messed up and forgot to count even one of your sins against Jesus. Rest assured that God didn’t mess up. He forgave ALL your sin, even the ones you are going to commit tomorrow. Does that mean I can just go out and sin? Technically yes, but just remember that Jesus removed the punishment, the eternal separation sin brought between us and God. He didn’t remove the consequence of sin. If I cheat on my wife, the consequence is that my marriage is over. If I steal or murder, the consequence is that I go to jail and become an outcast from society. Does that mean God is punishing me? No. It means I sowed destruction in my own life. The thief on the cross next to Jesus was forgiven but he still stayed and died on his cross. Jesus’ sacrifice didn’t make you immune against consequence, it made you immune from ever falling out of right standing before God.
That’s enough for now. I have already given you enough reasons to go thank God for being so awesome!
Glory to Glory!
Cornel Marais
Click here to read a preview of Cornel’s new book, “So You Think Your Mind Is Renewed?” If you’re tired of religion, legalism and the traditions of man, this book will be a great starting block for you to starting living the life you were destined to live in Christ!
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Strong stuff brother!!! As always!! This message refutes the arguments of legalists beyond a shadow of a doubt. but more than that, it empowers us to live lives void of guilt and condemnation so that we may come boldly to the throne of mercy and enter the holy of holies with confidence because of what Jesus did.
Hallelujah!
In Grace
Andre van der Merwe
November 5th, 2009 at 6:38 PM
What denomination (yeah right) do you have to be to slap somebody with this kind of good good good news???????????????? Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Just to add more about the article above.
1 John 2:1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Seems contradict to 1John 1:9 right. Actually the word confess there in the context is the greek word homologeo. Homo means same where you get homosexual. logeo means word. So, the word literally means same word. It means to agree with God. So, confession of sin is actually to agree with God about your sin that your sin has been judged at the cross and has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Hallelujah!
March 4th, 2010 at 9:47 AM
Are you serious? My friend you are leading people into great error.
Butch
Butch515@gmail.com
March 4th, 2010 at 2:28 PM
Hi Butch,
Thanks for your comment. Care to share why you think that? Please note that I am not propagating a sinful lifestyle, or telling people that they can just do what they want because God doesn’t care. All I am saying is that we have been freed from the law of the Old Covenant that held us captive through faith in Jesus.
Blessings,
Cornel
March 5th, 2010 at 5:16 AM
Sorry for my abruptness. There are several issues. One, the Gentiles were never under the Law to begin with. Two, you spoke of “all” of a person’s future sins already being forgiven, yet the apostles Peter and Paul say it was past sins that were forgiven, not future.
2 Peter 1:9 ( KJV )
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Romans 3:24-25 ( KJV )
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Butch
March 5th, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Thanks Butch,
I agree that the Gentiles we never under the law but they were still of Adam’s lineage which means the sinful nature got passed on to them. Since God desires ALL men to be saved, even the Gentiles became in need of a saviour. This is because many were made unrighteous by one man’s (first Adam’s) disobedience.
Rom 5:15-19 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
So whether the law was applicable to a gentile or not, they were still carrying the effects of Adam’s disobedience in their nature. For them to be freed from that they also need to have faith in Jesus Christ. When they do put their faith in Him, He removes the sinful nature and recreates them in righteousness and true holiness.
As for past present and future sins, let say only the sins you committed up to the moment you got saved were forgiven. Since the Bible teaches us that Christ will not be crucified again, but that He only did it once, how are you going to ensure your forgiveness for the sins you commit 5 minutes after being saved? Luckily God thought of that too so we can rest assured in Christ.
Heb 10:12 But when Christ had offered for ALL TIME a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
ALL TIME includes the future. Christ died for our sins 2000 years before we even committed them. That means God had to look back from the end of time and count every sin we would commit in our lifetime against Christ. When we receive His forgiveness, we receive that forgiveness.
Col 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us ALL our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
He has forgiven us ALL our trespasses. If He did include the future ones, then He couldn’t have said all. Then He should have said ‘some.’
Psa 103:2-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives ALL your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
Again, He forgives ALL our iniquity.
Jer 33:8 I will cleanse them from ALL the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive ALL the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.
Again the word ‘all’ is used to describe which sins are to be forgiven, twice in this prophecy about the New Covenant. If God repeats Himself, He must have been really serious about what He said.
Mar 3:28 “Truly, I say to you, ALL sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,
Even Jesus said ‘all’ when we referred to which sins are going to be forgiven.
You are more than welcome to tell God you are sorry, but don’t ask Him to do something He has already done. Every time a person asks for forgiveness again, they technically say that they don’t believe God already forgave them the day they got saved and that Jesus’ sacrifice was not enough to set them free because now they need more forgiveness. God is not going to send Jesus back to earth to be crucified all over again.
ONE sacrifice for ALL SIN for ALL TIME.
Glory to God!
Cornel
March 6th, 2010 at 9:05 AM
My friend, to mere take passages of Scripture out of context does not support your claim. To say all of your sins are forgiven obviously does not mean future since those sins do not exist. Christ is the sacrifice for every sin, however that application of that sacrifice is not automatic as it seems you are implying
How do you understand the words of he apostle’s that I have posted? Are they to just be ignored? There is nowhere in Scripture that states a person future sins were forgiven before they were committed.
March 6th, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Hi Butch
God is not bound by time, He lives in the eternal realms. To say the future doesn’t exist is not right either, it does exist, it just hasn’t happened yet. To me, all means all. If my future sins are not included in all, then the word’s entire definition is wrong and we should replace it with some. I am also not saying your sins were forgiven before you even committed them, I am saying the price and punishment for them were carried before you even committed them. You receive forgiveness the day the you put your faith in Christ Jesus.
As for the verses you quoted, I do not see them to say only your past sins were forgiven but that refers in general to the sins of the former you, the old man, the sinful man. After salvation we have become new creations in Christ and we are born of God, sealed the Spirit as guarantee. The words ‘sin’ in 1 Pet 2:9 and Rom 3:25 are in both instances not a verb but in fact a noun, referring not to the action of committing a sin but to the state of sinfulness of the past. So those verses actually support what I am saying.
If you think only our past sins were forgiven, then why is there not one verse in the new testament that talks about asking for forgiveness? Why didn’t any of the apostles teach people to ask for forgiveness every time they sin? The only verse in the entire new testament that even comes close is 1 John 1:9, where again the word sin is a noun, referring to our state of sinfulness that needs to be confessed and not our sinful actions.
Grace and peace to you
Cornel
March 29th, 2010 at 8:18 AM
Cornel,
I”m hearing this revelation in various places in the Church, and it feels like a renewed truth to the church…glad you’re written a book on it. I have a question (you may have answered this in your book) – I have been pondering sins against one another – as I know that for my gift to be received by God, if I know someone has something against me, I am to leave my “gift” – whatever I’m offering up to Him – and go and be reconciled to my brother/sister. I”m also commanded to go in private to my brother/sister who has sinned against me to lovingly attempt reconciliation, and if he/she won’t hear me, to take 2 or 3 witnesses along and if he/she still won’t hear me, to tell it to the church (I assume this means church leadership, as modeled by Paul in the treatment of the brother who sinned with his father’s wife).
In the case where a brother/sister has something against me, even though that sin is covered at the Cross by my Father, I must still exercise love and go to my brother in private to attempt to reconcile with him/her, correct?
And in the case where my brother/sister has sinned against me, I’m also to go in private and attempt a reconciliation, then follow the steps if that doesn’t work…these steps being for the purpose of resolution, reconciliation, restored fellowship and, in the case of the person who refuses to reconcile, church “discipline” which word I hate because I think it’s more like disfellowshipping temporarily like Paul had the church do in the case of the immoral brother, in the hopes that he will miss the church so much – the established relationships – that he is finally willing to give up the lover and turn back to Christ, to a pure life, and of course to the relationships he has been missing out on due to his refusal to repent of the sin. To me, this is more like an official “time out” – done by the church with tears, sadness, longing to have them back eventually. And in the case of this brother from Corinth, following the “3 steps” Jesus laid out evidently worked!!
I don’t know churches that talk about THIS forgiveness/reconciliation process….and have only known one that actually practiced the “3 step” process or encouraged it. Most churches I’ve been in skip the “go in private” to your brother part, and tell everyone else first, send someone else, or let it ride out and create more problems….
does your book address this or only one’s personal relationship with God in relationship to sins forgiven?
Thanks,
Leslie
March 29th, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Cornel,
Hi, I was taught over 8 years ago the grace message that you are sharing in this article and I was freed from the law and dead works. Likewise even in my own reading and studding of the word i was led to believe as you that all my sins were forgiven, past and future. Now keep in mind i have lived this for 8 years now, until just a few months ago when i was reading my bible and I read though 1 John, which then led me to re read all of the gospels and letters of Paul. let me list some scriptures that i hope will give you the same revelation and life that it has brought me.
1 john 1:6 ( BTW, John is writing to the saints, Christians) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 2: 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may NOT sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
You see when we accept Jesus as Lord, it says that we become a new creation, a new creation is different, if you stay the same you are not a new creation. those who keep his commands are those who know him, and are in him.
We become free FROM sin not free TO sin. Romans 8 says: 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You see, the freedom in jesus that removes condemnation is only for those who walk according to the spirt. it also say in verse 4 that the law is fulfilled to those who walk according to the spirt not the flesh. In verse 8 it says that those who walk according to the flesh cannot please God, so those who continue to walk in sin, SHOULD feel condemnation so that it brings them to repentance.
Now this scripture is the kicker, i am sure i read this before in the last 8 years but my foolishness kept me from receiving the fear of the lord, which brings repentance to the proud:
Hebrews 10: 26
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.”31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
This is pretty clear that anyone who continues to sin after receiving Jesus, there is therefor no more sacrifice for sins left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment. If you just read all of that you will understand that willfully sinning is NOT ok and will be punished worse than those who were under the law of moses.
So where does Jesus come into all of this right? Because my understanding was that Jesus took away all our sins right? Well he did, just those that were done before you met God, and now the ones ones done in ignorance. He did this because under the law even the sacrifices of bulls and goats could not remove guilt from sin. you still always had the guilt and condemnation even after the sacrifice. Also you HAD to do things to earn your righteousness. But Now that jesus died we are made Righteous by what HE did on the cross and we are free to love him. We now choose to love God and obey his commands because he loves us, not because if we don’t he wont accept us. The obedience is the same, the only change under grace is how and why we obey. Jesus said, I did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill it.
Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
1 last scripture that talks about people who choose to live in sin and call themselves Christians.
Matthew 7:21 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
There are so many more scriptures to prove this and I pray that you will receive this word that will truly bring life and peace to you. The freedom from dead works is a necessity to love God, but it must come with obedience to Gods will not our own. If you would like more explanation I would love to talk with you more about it.
Blessing,
Nathan
March 29th, 2010 at 6:37 PM
To Leslie,
Thanks for your question. The easy answer is to follow the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have done unto you. If you sinned against somebody, go and make right with them. If they do not accept it or do not forgive you, that is not your problem then. If somebody sinned against you and they come to ask forgiveness, then forgive them.
2Co 2:5-8 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in so measeasure–not to put it too severely–to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
Rom 15:7 Therefore receive one another as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.
Christ received you freely and forgave you freely. So do the same unto others. Don’t even wait for them to come ask forgiveness, just forgive them and when they do come to ask, you can tell them you have already forgiven them.
Luk 17:3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,
Gal 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.
As for your gift that you bring to God, your right-standing before Him is not based on your ability to forgive others and be in unity with them, Your right-standing is based on Jesus’ righteousness freely given to you. You can come into the throne room with boldness, without having to worry about God not receiving you. God is your Father, He loves you unconditionally. It is good to forgive and be in peace with as many people as you can, just as it is good to live morally, but we should never base our relationship with God on anything we can do. We should only base it on what Jesus did on our behalf.
I hope that helps. Please ask if you want to know more.
God bless,
Cornel
March 29th, 2010 at 7:05 PM
To Nathan,
Thanks for your comments. In regards to your interpretation of 1 John, please read the teaching we have on misunderstood bible terminology. It will clear that up the meanings regarding fellowship and practicing lawlessness etc.
I agree that we have been freed from sin, and that we have not been given a right to sin. I have never and will never propagate a sinful lifestyle. I however will stick to what I said before. Do not base your relationship with God on your ability to not sin or to be obedient. Base your relationship with Him on FAITH in Jesus Christ.
As for Romans 8, the second half of verse one “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” was not actually in the original Greek, it was added by a translator. If you read the words of Romans 8 carefully, you will see they support what I am saying. The righteous requirement of the law WAS fulfilled in us. Not because we walk according to the Spirit, but because of Jesus and our faith in Him. Read verse 3 again. He just used the walking according to the Spirit and flesh to differentiate between believers and unbelievers. Meaning that if you walk according to the flesh, you are actually not saved. If you are saved, then you do not walk according to the flesh any longer.
To explain Hebrews 10 is going to take more time. I suggest you read the teaching “What is your definition of sin?” to understand what I am about to say. If you willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, it means that you heard the gospel and chose to reject it. Sin under the new covenant is unbelief in Jesus. That is it. So, you willfully keep on sinning by choosing not to believe in Him. For that person there is no more sacrifice for sins.
You said, “Because my understanding was that Jesus took away all our sins right? Well he did, just those that were done before you met God, and now the ones ones done in ignorance.” Can you give any scriptural backing for this? If you can we can discuss it further. To me, ALL means ALL.
As for Jesus coming to fulfill the law and the prophets, think about it like this: The law has requirements, do this, don’t do that. If you keep those requirements, you are in right-standing before God. So, since Jesus fulfilled them, meaning he was obedient for us, the righteousness He received for that was given to us. Since He already did it, the requirement is fulfilled and is no longer applicable. You eat because your body is hungry. It requires you to eat. Once you have eaten, you are filled and the hunger goes away. What do you do then? You STOP eating. So since Jesus did everything to fulfill the law for us, it means it is fulfilled, the requirement is mt and we can STOP trying.
As for Matt 7, if you read the teaching about misunderstood bible terminology, you will understand what that means too.
If you would like to continue this discussion please email me at contact@charismaministries.org and we can talk about it some more.
Grace to you!
Cornel.
May 13th, 2010 at 4:04 PM
Col 2:13 KJV – And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all (Gr. each and every individual) trespasses;
Sounds like future to me
May 13th, 2010 at 4:08 PM
Forgot to add…God could not raise you from the dead unless He forgave your trespasses first. He raised us up having forgiven us and in Rom 4:25 it says,
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The Greek word for “for” in this verse means “On account of, because of” so Jesus was delivered because of our offences and was raised because of our justification that took place when He died and rose again…we were forgiven then and that included each and every individual trespass we ever would or could ever commit by dying to the law which made sin, sin.
May 13th, 2010 at 4:11 PM
Im sorry I just keep adding stuff, sin and the believer is not even an issue – sin is the transgression of the law and as John states,
1Jo 3:9 KJV – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
May 15th, 2010 at 4:55 AM
Cornel—You said, “Because my understanding was that Jesus took away all our sins right? Well he did, just those that were done before you met God, and now the ones ones done in ignorance.” Can you give any scriptural backing for this? If you can we can discuss it further. To me, ALL means ALL.
I can,
Romans 3:25 ( KJV )
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Notice Paul says Christ is a propitiation for past sins.
2 Peter 1:5-9 ( KJV )
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Notice Peter says, he was purged of his old sins.
Or how about another of Peter’s statements?
Acts 3:19-21 ( KJV )
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
That your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing comes form the Lord. That is in the future tense, that your sin “MAY BE” blotted out, when? When the times of refreshing come from the Lord at the restitution of all things.
May 15th, 2010 at 4:58 AM
Cornel—To explain Hebrews 10 is going to take more time. I suggest you read the teaching “What is your definition of sin?” to understand what I am about to say. If you willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, it means that you heard the gospel and chose to reject it. Sin under the new covenant is unbelief in Jesus. That is it. So, you willfully keep on sinning by choosing not to believe in Him. For that person there is no more sacrifice for sins.
Sin in the NT is not believing, is that all, nothing else? I believe the apostle Paul included quite a bit more than just not believing.
May 15th, 2010 at 5:13 AM
Paul Rupe—Im sorry I just keep adding stuff, sin and the believer is not even an issue – sin is the transgression of the law and as John states,
1Jo 3:9 KJV – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Butch— Consider that the word “cannot” can also mean that the Christian is not allowed to sin. Surely it does not mean he is incapable of sinning. If my friend calls me and asks if I would like to go to the mall and I tell him I can’t go, that does not necessarily mean I am physically incapable. It may be that I have other plans or I am waiting for a phone call or whatever. I does not require that I am physically incapable of sin. It is the same with this statement from John, he is not saying a Christian is incapable of sinning, but that they are not supposed to. If he was saying they were not capable of sin then there would be no reason for his other statement, if we sin we have an advocate with the Father.
May 15th, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Butch
Are you saved because of your faith in Christ or because of your ability to stop sinning and seek forgiveness? If it’s your ability to not sin, then you are basing your salvation on your works, not grace.
Basing your relationship with God on your ability to not sin is called self-righteousness.
The law is canceled. Jesus nailed it to the cross, canceling its requirements. Jesus is my righteousness. He is my right-standing before God.
If a person has to confess and seek forgiveness of every sin they do wrong, and they go to bed and think, I’ll do it in the morning. Then in their sleep they die. Are they going to heaven or hell? Based on what you are saying, they will be going to hell because those sins they didn’t seek forgiveness for are not forgiven.
Jesus told the people that to see the Kingdom of God their righteousness has to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. The only way to do that is to trust in Jesus, because His righteousness exceeds all of man’s efforts (self-righteousness).
Jesus + anything = nothing.
Jesus + nothing = everything.
June 4th, 2010 at 7:05 AM
What about “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” – isn’t that the Lord instructing us to ask for forgiveness during prayer?
June 4th, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Hi Aimee
Forgive to be forgiven was an Old Covenant law requirement. When Jesus taught this He hadn’t yet gone through the cross. After that everything changed.
Col 3:13 forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Under the New Covenant we forgive as we HAVE BEEN forgiven. We don’t forgive to be forgiven.
Cornel
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:50 AM
Hi Cornel, I just discovered this post and the fascinating train of comments that follows it. Good stuff! I love this sort of dialogue. God’s grace is brain-fryingly mysterious. Why did he die for us while we were yet sinners? I don’t know, but I’m glad he did. To some above who are still wrestling with this, I would say, God’s grace didn’t come to a grinding halt at the cross. Just as he loved sinners so unconditionally as to die for them and forgive them as they killed him, so he loves Christians too. Stop wringing your hands in self-condemnation and start thanking him for his amazing gift. Interpret what you read in scripture through the perfectly perfect and completely complete work of the cross.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:26 PM
Hi Butch,
On John’s use of : “1Jo 3:9 KJV – Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” Your argument on the use of the word ‘cannot’ makes perfect sense. I asked that question an awful lot anytime I heard that message being preached.
However, that word translated phrase ‘he cannot’ in the greek is actually 2 words: ou dunatai. Which literally means:
ou – an absolute negative, ‘neither,not, nay …’
dunatai ( from dunamai) – to be able or possible.
With that information, John’s letter seems to actually say its not possible for one born of God to sin. Any ideas on this everyone? John even says in verse 6: ” Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (KJV)”.
That seems pretty harsh and definite on his path.
Also, please take note of :
“1 John 2:12-13
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
(KJV)”
These were the same ‘little children ( saints) to whom he said to confess their sins ye he tells them that their sins are forgiven. Because they confessed? Nope, but because they have known the Father (i.e. they know his true nature). Remember in chapter 2 he said if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with that Father? He wanted them to be conscious of grace and the finished work of Jesus and understand that though they might sin, their eyes have to be kept on Jesus. He gives them the hard reality in chapter 3 when he makes it clear that there are only 2 sides: Those who know God and those who don’t.
On 1 John 1:9, notice WHY God forgives our sins: “…he is faithful and Just to forgive us…”. It’s not because we wept up a river and confessed cos frankly, we could have chosen to not sin but we did sin in light of his truth ( in reference to present and future sins). He forgives because He is faithful ( to His promise and covenant) and Just ( just in justifying the ungodly by faith in Jesus as Legally, Jesus paid for it).
So why confess? Its cos it gets us to the point where we can receive what He’s done.
(Note that repentance is necessary. i.e., basically setting or minds on God and fighting whatever stands as sin in out path. This is evident in the actual root of the word translated ‘confess’. I’ll be happy to clarify if anyone has questions).
For instance, all those going to hell are going not because Jesus didn’t pay for their sins, but because they never received it. In a like manner, this confession gets us to accepting what He has done.
The Lord showed me something sometime back which astounded me about Paul’s writings. Notice this:
Eph 4:20-24
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
(NIV)
Paul was asking them to quit sin and put on the real them, their new nature. This theme is carried through majority of his writings. We don’t quit sin to make God love us, we quit sin because we are deceiving ourselves if we sin. Jesus fixed the sin problem ( Thank you Lord!!! ) by giving us a new spirit, created to be just like him. The Christian life is from the inside out and not the outside in; we have to understand that. We fight and quit our failing because that’s not who we are anymore, knowing that if we fail a million times, Jesus has paid for us a million times +1, always there to see us through and lift us up when we return to His grace. Just to further reinforce this, notice something interesting about how Paul viewed this truth:
“Eph 4:28
et him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
(KJV)”
Why should he stop stealing? Cos the law said so? Nope, cos he is filled with love and compassion towards the needy by virtue of the Love of God in him, and as thus, quit forcing himself to be a devil’s kid and do what his spirit is yearning to do, i.e. give from his own labour. Wow! I pray this hits you guys like it hit me! Careful study will indeed reveal a whole new purpose for living Holy, without the fear of there being some hidden sin God will bring to our account and cast us to hell over.
… man, i write alot, sorry guys
. lol
PS: Technically, any sin you commit becomes a ‘past’ sin so….
. Read into chapter 11 and you might realize that his emphasis was on faith in Jesus. Even if not, [ i appeal to your personal experiences here]. Why do you repent of a sin and turn back to God when you fail? Is it because the bible said so specifically? Or is it because deep down within you, you are dying to please Him and hate the very fact that you fell short? Its the latter for most, because your new nature is by default: Righteousness of God. So, the person who sins willfully here ( Heb 10:26++ ) who should be afraid of the Judgment of God isn’t he who knew the truth and lied and with true sorrow in his heart, went to the Lord’s arms of embrace. It is he, who knowing full well that he has failed the Lord, chooses to keep in his sin and not care; that’s a recipe for disaster right there.
PSS: On Hebrews 10, lets try to remember that the writer wrote a letter, not a book with chapters and verses
In all I have said, I stand to be corrected and am definitely open for discussion and clarification where necessary. That’s what believer’s do, we check each other with the word and spur each other on to Kingdom works!
In Love.
Stay blessed