Saturday, 16 July 2011
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Five Questions About Christianity (Part Five)
We received these questions from a reader, and we are passing them on to you one a day to help us answer.
Does confessing onse sins automatically mean that the sins are eradicated and that God forgives you or does that mean you need to strive to become better person?
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Comments (17)
As to the question: IT'S A TRAP! (Admiral Ackbar, anyone?)
Christ died once, for all sin. How that plays into when sins are forgiven is a debate amongst many, many Christians. I won't speak for all Christians, but I can speak for myself. This also holds many ties to a "faith vs. works" debate amongst Christians (in a way) in just how faith in Christ and the things Christ calls us to do (works) should and do relate to each other.
"Confessing your sins" means more than saying what you did was wrong. It must also involve the realization you can't clean yourself, and that Christ is the only one who can. Our actions (works, or "desire to be better") should flow from our forgiveness, and not be considered "required because of it or to earn it." Faith proves works, and works prove faith. You can't have one without the other.
As to questions of: "What if you're a Christian and die before you can ask for forgiveness of something!?" No, I don't believe you go to hell for that. God knows your disposition towards Himself. The words said to Him, are almost "moreso for us" -- bringing us into communication with God, realizing the impact of what we've done by admitting it out loud, and humbling ourselves before Him in doing so. Again, such actions come easily to the one who believes Christ is who He said He is and desire to follow Him.
God bless,
~Scott
God forgave you before you ever met Him because of what Jesus did. In a relationship with God, we do still confess our sins to Him. It's probably partially therapeutic but also important for a relationship with Him (same reason it's important to confess sins to friends and family you've wronged). You don't need to strive to earn His forgiveness.
People who love Him are so overcome by His compassion that being a "better person" will be the outward fruit of abiding in His love.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit" -John 15:5
Vines/trees don't work hard to bear fruit. They simply take in nutrients, water and the sun, and fruit naturally is produced. Will you sometimes make conscious decisions to do good deeds? Certainly. But it becomes less and less of something where you have to force yourself to be good, to a place where it's as natural as breathing.
It's not an either/or. We should do both. Confess our sins and strive to be obedient to God.
"Does confessing onse sins automatically mean that the sins are eradicated and that God forgives you or does that mean you need to strive to become better person?"
That all depends on how you go about it. If you are talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation then so long as everything is there (an ordained priest, a penitent person and so on) then when you receive absolution through the priest your sins (yes, every single one of them) is forgiven and you are reconciled with Christ and the Church by Christ's ministry of His forgiveness through His priest (the priest is only the minister; he is not the one forgiving the sins). Does this mean you should just go do whatever you want and make sure you come to confession every so often to "clean up?" Absolutely not! Part of the sacrament is being penitent; being sorry for your sins. If you haven't a contrite, penitent heart--in other words you are not sorry--then Christ will not forgive you. Why? Because you don't want to be forgiven anyways! He will not drag you kicking and screaming to His forgiveness; He loves you more than that.
Now if you are talking about confessing to Christ privately in your prayer I have no idea. Not that He CAN'T choose to forgive in this way but rarely does He help us to have any certainty as to that forgiveness. When I want to know for certain that I have been reconciled to Him, by Him, I go the route that He established with the foundation of His Church through His apostles.
If you would like to know more about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please feel free to message me any time!
Question: Does confessing onse sins automatically mean that the sins are eradicated and that God forgives you or does that mean you need to strive to become better person?
My Answer: Christ is more merciful and compassionate than any human could ever have hoped to be or will ever hope to be. Christ is God. He sacrificed His perfect sinless human life in a tortured and grotesque manner so that we could be forgiven, an offer that has been made to the entire world (in other words, Christ died for the sins of the world).
Forgiveness for sins only comes to those who believe with their heart and mind that Jesus is that all-sufficient sacrifice for sins and then call upon Him for forgiveness, regeneration, and salvation. For those who are sincere in this appeal to Christ (and not merely playing word games) salvation is certain.
All sins at that moment of regeneration are forgiven and our relationship with God is firmly established. Every sin we commit after that causes an offense to God but does not mean we lose our salvation, only that the relationship has been soured (think of a disobedient child who does not get disowned by the parents for each naughty infraction). Every unrighteous sin that is confessed by the believer is forgiven and cleansed restoring the relationship with Christ completely. No other mediator is needed because Christ is both our confessor and high priest.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Does confessing one's sins automatically mean that the sins are
eradicated and that God forgives you or does that mean you need to
strive to become better person?
Yes. And Yes.
Nearly every one of my prayers begins thus: "Oh Jesus, God of second chances and new beginnings, it's me, again..."
BTW, I've been praying -- confessing my sins and asking God to guide me further into His righteousness -- for more than fifty years now. Care to join me?
Your sins were forgiven 2000 years ago.
God loves you and he knows you better than you know yourself.
It mean that you acknowledge where you have fallen short and you are asking God to help you in those areas where you are weak and He will!
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - um i have to disagree with you. It says in the Bible that the only way to God is through Jesus, thats why He came and died on the cross.. We do not need an intercessor any more. We can go straight to God. And as for not have any certainty that my sins are forgiven, I have no fear of that. Because the devil loves to make us doubt that God loves us and forgives us.
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Also, God's love is UNCONDITIONAL. His forgiveness and grace are UNCONDITIONAL. When we ask God to forgive us, He does, and then our sins are taken and thrown into the deepest darkest part of the sea never to be brought up again. BUT we have to forgive others too, if we don't we are just bringing God's judgement on our heads.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - We are in substantial agreement, I think, given your comment. However, while God loves sinners and saints alike, His forgiveness is NOT unconditional. If one never confesses one's sins, especially because they say they never have sinned, they obtain no forgiveness from God.
"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10)
@craigwbooth@xanga - we have to ask God for forgiveness to get it, thats kindof obvious.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - Yes, it does say exactly that in the Bible; I am not speaking of an intercessor, but a minister. The Bible also says that Jesus gave certain men authority to forgive sins in His name (John 20:21-23, for example, says exactly this). Even St. Paul talks about the Church's ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20), entrusted to the apostles. What St. Paul is getting at and what Christ meant to establish ("Just as the Father sent ME so I sent YOU...") is that when we go to one of Christ's chosen ministers, someone who has surrendered their life to Him so that He may minister through him, we are going straight to God, in a way that is, like Christ, inherently Incarnational. This is all found in the New Testament and has been practiced, taught and celebrated in the Church since the very beginning two-thousand years before now. The priest is not a middle-man; he is the minister, there completely at Christ's disposal, through whom He speaks to, touches, heals and forgives His people.
Yes, God's love is absolutely unconditional, but His forgiveness is not! He will not forgive us if we do not ask for it (this is a condition) and even if we do ask for it, if we are not repentant (in other words, if we are not actually sorry for our sins) He will not forgive us (another condition). And what of St. James's advice in his letter chapter 5 verses 14-16? If anyone is sick he should summon the priests to pray over him and anoint him in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save him...and if he has committed any sins they will be forgiven. It goes on to say "therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another..."
Just some thoughts!
@Ancient_Scribe@xanga - *sigh* thats not what I meant by unconditional. I meant it as in its not a "do this first, and then I will forgive you", as in its not something we need to earn.
I do not go to church, but I still believe that when I ask my Heavenly Father to forgive me, He does.I don't need to go to a minister, or priest, or anyone else and tell them how badly I messed up. God already knows, and He forgives me the moment I ask.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - Oh I see; you meant that God loves us freely! Sorry about the misunderstanding.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - Hi LadyG. You wrote, " we have to ask God for forgiveness to get it, thats kindof obvious.'
I think it is only obvious if you understand redemptive history as it is depticted in the Scriptures. There are many universalists who believe at the end of time God will announce to everyone, "Hah! Well kids, eternal Hell was really just my joke on you and you fell for it. I have actually forgiven everyone of everything whether they wanted it or not. Everyone please just assemble in Ghandi Hall across from the Hitler Pavilion and we can commence with our Forever Feast. Oh, and I'd like to introduce you to my good friend Satan who will open us with his pop hit number..."
@craigwbooth@xanga - to be honest, I don't know anyone who believes what you described. I have many different friends with many different beliefs, ranging from Southern Baptists, to Mormons to Goths and Atheists.
Yes, it is obvious to any one who believes in God (I say that because I don't generally call myself a Christian).
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - Hello again LadyG.
I am surprised that you have not yet met a universalist in the flesh. Rob Bell, a currently popular postmodern preacher in the emerging church movement just published a book on the subject called "Love Wins" in which he describes just that scenario. It has even garnered the attention of the news media.
As for my own belief system, I tend to take the Scriptures for the message they deliver, that eternal life is only guaranteed to those who believe in Christ and call upon God for forgiveness. Blessings.
@craigwbooth@xanga - I'm very skeptical of any "well known" so-called leaders like Rob Bell.. I use very very careful discernment guided by Holy Spirit when it comes to anything other then the Bible. There are warnings all through the Bible about false prophets so I only listen to God.
And media? Sorry, don't pay attention to that either.