If you want to be free from the guilt of your sin as a born again believer? The best way is to obey God and confess your sin. This is the cleansing that Christ provided for us.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
There can be no cleansing without confession of sin.
The freest day of ones life is the day they admit their sin. After that the guilt no longer dogs them or has power over them. Its gone forever. No one can hold an accusation against us when we have confessed and turned from sin.
Pretending there is no sin will only drive the sinner deeper into lying, faking and shallow relationships. The the longer and deeper one goes into denial about their sin the less likely they are to be free of it without God's severe discipline.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
God will stop listening to those who refuse to confess and stop sinning.
Isaiah 1:14-16 "…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
Instead of preaching forgive without repentance we ought to be warning those who sin to repent and stop their sin.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
A nation that will not confess their sin and turn from it will see severe chastising. Our nation camps on the idea that forgiving is the all important matter, it is not, its only half of the solution, the other half is confession of sin.
Monday, March 18, 2019
Forgiveness Superficially
Perhaps those who believe we should be forgiven without having to confess are proclaiming this because they don't want to have to go through the heartbreak of separation from those whom they wish to have a relationship.
If we forgive to maintain a relationship that relationship is not based on truth or resolution of a problem. It is continually strained not knowing if there will be a next time, and there probably will since the offender didn't think they did anything wrong, or pretends they did nothing wrong.
Pretense is never good, authentic forgiveness after confession resolves things and leads to a deeper relationship. There cannot be a deeper relationship when one party is not wanting to admit their fault and when there can be no discussion to resolve a matter.
James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
God said, "confess your sins one to another."
1 Peter 2:23
"23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;"
We are never to do revenge nor are we to return evil for evil, however this is not forgiveness. This is maintaining our integrity according to God's Word no matter what the offender is doing.
Forgiveness is an entirely different matter. Forgiveness is not for ourselves, it is for the purpose of reconciling a relationship. A relationships cannot be reconciled when there has not been confession.
A born again believer often will confess sinfulness before they are even told they were offensive. Sadly there are many pretenders who refuse to confess, even asserting that they had a good reason for the offense. This person should be put away from us until they are authentically sorry they have harmed someone.
If we see an offender on the street we can be kind but maintain the distance for the relationship until we see movement in their attitude.
We are never to forgive someone for what they did to others. It is not our business to let offenders off the hook when the offense wasn't even against us.
The problem with today's church is that there is no more church discipline as God commanded. With all this superficial forgiving going on the offenders are more empowered than ever, even demanding and expecting to be forgiven without any remorse for their behavior.
God commanded the church to put out those who are sinning, that they might be buffeted by Satan. IF we love offenders we will require confession to be cleansed by God.
Cleansing is the most wonderful things when an offender has confessed as the broken relationship is restored. Let's not be enablers who perpetuate evil behavior by forgiving when there is no brokenness over sin.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 "…12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “EXPEL THE WICKED MAN FROM YOU."
If we forgive to maintain a relationship that relationship is not based on truth or resolution of a problem. It is continually strained not knowing if there will be a next time, and there probably will since the offender didn't think they did anything wrong, or pretends they did nothing wrong.
Pretense is never good, authentic forgiveness after confession resolves things and leads to a deeper relationship. There cannot be a deeper relationship when one party is not wanting to admit their fault and when there can be no discussion to resolve a matter.
James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
God said, "confess your sins one to another."
1 Peter 2:23
"23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;"
We are never to do revenge nor are we to return evil for evil, however this is not forgiveness. This is maintaining our integrity according to God's Word no matter what the offender is doing.
Forgiveness is an entirely different matter. Forgiveness is not for ourselves, it is for the purpose of reconciling a relationship. A relationships cannot be reconciled when there has not been confession.
A born again believer often will confess sinfulness before they are even told they were offensive. Sadly there are many pretenders who refuse to confess, even asserting that they had a good reason for the offense. This person should be put away from us until they are authentically sorry they have harmed someone.
If we see an offender on the street we can be kind but maintain the distance for the relationship until we see movement in their attitude.
We are never to forgive someone for what they did to others. It is not our business to let offenders off the hook when the offense wasn't even against us.
The problem with today's church is that there is no more church discipline as God commanded. With all this superficial forgiving going on the offenders are more empowered than ever, even demanding and expecting to be forgiven without any remorse for their behavior.
God commanded the church to put out those who are sinning, that they might be buffeted by Satan. IF we love offenders we will require confession to be cleansed by God.
Cleansing is the most wonderful things when an offender has confessed as the broken relationship is restored. Let's not be enablers who perpetuate evil behavior by forgiving when there is no brokenness over sin.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 "…12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “EXPEL THE WICKED MAN FROM YOU."
Forgiveness is not What You Think
Why is no one proclaiming that confession sets us free from bitterness? Why is it always about forgiveness? God commanded that both occur.
Confession and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin. There cannot be one without the other.
The modern church attempts to separate them thinking that it is love to ignore the sin in a relationship.
Relationships cannot be reconciled legitimately with spiritual and emotional growth unless someone is sorry enough to confess that there is a need for forgiveness.
Luke 17:3-5 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!"
In an age when people think it is kind to never require accountability we miss the lessons from discipline. It is not kind to allow someone to continue without consequences.
Love is shown when we allow the one we love to have consequences for bad behavior. When they will not listen it is wrong to pretend that their offense has been cleansed.
Isaiah 26:10-11 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
The lie that we must forgive those who are not sorry comes from psychology and helps no one. Just "saying" "I forgive them" does nothing at all. Relieving offenders of guilt before they have a chance to repent removes an opportunity to learn important lessons about relationships as well as God's justice.
God never forgives an unrepentant heart. We know this because more people are going to go to hell that are going to heaven.
Forgiving before confession is nothing more than messaging feelings. It is nothing real or concrete, just fluff that flies in the wind without substance. Nothing has been resolved and no one grows, it is a matter of sweeping the dirt under the rug hoping because we can't see it, it no longer exists.
Follow the Link :https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/association-of-biblical-counselors/5-indicators-of-an-evil-and-wicked-heart.html?fbclid=iwar02pbtckip_ya6pxgmy2ut5kkodaqk34bzrddb6izq6i9b5odlbt4fhab0
The modern church attempts to separate them thinking that it is love to ignore the sin in a relationship.
Relationships cannot be reconciled legitimately with spiritual and emotional growth unless someone is sorry enough to confess that there is a need for forgiveness.
Luke 17:3-5 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!"
In an age when people think it is kind to never require accountability we miss the lessons from discipline. It is not kind to allow someone to continue without consequences.
Love is shown when we allow the one we love to have consequences for bad behavior. When they will not listen it is wrong to pretend that their offense has been cleansed.
Isaiah 26:10-11 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
The lie that we must forgive those who are not sorry comes from psychology and helps no one. Just "saying" "I forgive them" does nothing at all. Relieving offenders of guilt before they have a chance to repent removes an opportunity to learn important lessons about relationships as well as God's justice.
God never forgives an unrepentant heart. We know this because more people are going to go to hell that are going to heaven.
Forgiving before confession is nothing more than messaging feelings. It is nothing real or concrete, just fluff that flies in the wind without substance. Nothing has been resolved and no one grows, it is a matter of sweeping the dirt under the rug hoping because we can't see it, it no longer exists.
Follow the Link :https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/association-of-biblical-counselors/5-indicators-of-an-evil-and-wicked-heart.html?fbclid=iwar02pbtckip_ya6pxgmy2ut5kkodaqk34bzrddb6izq6i9b5odlbt4fhab0
Its the Holy Spirit They Fear
Since the Holy Spirit is restraining evil in the world we must conclude that it is the Holy Spirit in us that is doing it. When we are removed in the rapture all hell will literally be loosed to do unspeakable things upon the earth.
Since the Holy Spirit in us is the restrainer we can surmise that unbelievers around us can sense that Holy Spirit whether or not we speak.
I am convinced this is the reason so many people are angry at us before they even know us. Unbelievers are often uncomfortable in our presence but don't know why, they think there must be something wrong with us. It is also the reason gossip and lies are told about us that are not accurate description of our lives.
The devil is busy whispering half truths into the minds of people. He is also busy causing "feelings" that are unsettling within people to make them believe there is something wrong with us.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of doing His miracles by the power of the devil, when all He did all the time was good for everyone who encountered Him.
Do we really think that the devil will do any less against us that he did against Christ? NO, Christ assured us that we will be hated because of Christ Who lives in us.
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. "
Satan loves to use family to persecute believers. He knows that our desire to have a deeper relationship with family, looms large above every other relationship in our small world.
This is why God said that we must move on from family who do not love Him and would attempt to destroy our relationship with him in order to feel better about themselves.
Luke 14:26-27 "26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"
Our relationship with Christ ought to be so intense that we are willing to lose family to follow Him.
Many believers are enduring meanness from family members because of their love for Christ. Some of these family members pretend to be Christians but lack any fervor that demonstrates a love for Christ. These people are even embarrassed and irritated when we speak about Christ and His principles.
Some of the meanest people I have encountered have been Christians who love to pretend they are superior to others. I do not know if they are born again or not, but I do know that when we love the Lord we love the brethren.
1 John 3:14 "14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death."
John 13:34-35 "…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”"
When there is someone who continually demeans and mocks a brother or sister in Christ merely to elevate self, we can suspect that they do not love Christ as they claim. If we love Christ we are excited to meet another brother or sister who also loves Him.
We must be willing to speak about Christ even if we will lose others over it. Christ must always come first above family and anyone else.
Matthew 22:36-38 "…36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.…"
If we love Christ the way He commanded, then we will love the brethren properly as well as the principles of God.
Since the Holy Spirit in us is the restrainer we can surmise that unbelievers around us can sense that Holy Spirit whether or not we speak.
I am convinced this is the reason so many people are angry at us before they even know us. Unbelievers are often uncomfortable in our presence but don't know why, they think there must be something wrong with us. It is also the reason gossip and lies are told about us that are not accurate description of our lives.
The devil is busy whispering half truths into the minds of people. He is also busy causing "feelings" that are unsettling within people to make them believe there is something wrong with us.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of doing His miracles by the power of the devil, when all He did all the time was good for everyone who encountered Him.
Do we really think that the devil will do any less against us that he did against Christ? NO, Christ assured us that we will be hated because of Christ Who lives in us.
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. "
Satan loves to use family to persecute believers. He knows that our desire to have a deeper relationship with family, looms large above every other relationship in our small world.
This is why God said that we must move on from family who do not love Him and would attempt to destroy our relationship with him in order to feel better about themselves.
Luke 14:26-27 "26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"
Our relationship with Christ ought to be so intense that we are willing to lose family to follow Him.
Many believers are enduring meanness from family members because of their love for Christ. Some of these family members pretend to be Christians but lack any fervor that demonstrates a love for Christ. These people are even embarrassed and irritated when we speak about Christ and His principles.
Some of the meanest people I have encountered have been Christians who love to pretend they are superior to others. I do not know if they are born again or not, but I do know that when we love the Lord we love the brethren.
1 John 3:14 "14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death."
John 13:34-35 "…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”"
When there is someone who continually demeans and mocks a brother or sister in Christ merely to elevate self, we can suspect that they do not love Christ as they claim. If we love Christ we are excited to meet another brother or sister who also loves Him.
We must be willing to speak about Christ even if we will lose others over it. Christ must always come first above family and anyone else.
Matthew 22:36-38 "…36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.…"
If we love Christ the way He commanded, then we will love the brethren properly as well as the principles of God.
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