Conditional instructions versus grace

Conditional instructions versus grace

STATEMENT:

The Bible is clear that we must confess our sins. Please read 1st John 1:9 which says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sin …".

RESPONSE:

The verse you reference in 1 John is applicable to the believers that live during a different dispensation. It is not the dispensation you and I live in today. So, although we can learn from what John writes, concerning their doctrine and life, it is not something that applies to us today. I can validate what I say by pointing you to the very nature of the words used by John in the verse you quote. Let’s compare:

John says, “IF we confess…he is faithful and just to forgive…”. Notice the condition. The reverse, “If we do not confess”, is also true due to the nature of the laws that Israel live under.

Jesus says, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye SHALL be forgiven:” Luk6:37. Here is the same action-orientated condition.

Jesus says, “For IF ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will ALSO forgive you:  (15)  But IF ye forgive not men their trespasses, NEITHER will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Mat 6:14-15. Still the same condition.

It is clear that the Kingdom doctrine which Jesus and the 12-apostles taught was conditional because Israel was under the law. There was conditional works that men had to do to prove their faith and endure for salvation, Jas.2. This is not the doctrine that you and I abide under today. Our doctrine is the Grace doctrine that the Lord revealed to Paul, our apostle Rom.11:13.

Let's have a look at some examples in grace:

Eph.1:7  In whom WE HAVE redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph.4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake HATH forgiven you.

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;

Notice the ‘past tense’ of the above statements. We have redemption and forgiveness. Christ hath forgiven us. He quickened us having forgiven us all trespasses. Not only are our sins forgiven already, but Paul writes of no instructions to the grace believer to earn or receive forgiveness. In our grace gospel, Christ has already done the work. All we do is believe.

Now, although confession is not a requirement for forgiveness and ultimately salvation, this does not mean we do not confess or have remorse for sins. Paul writes that our sins are not counted (or imputed) against us, 2Cor.5:19, but falling in weakness should elicit remorse or godly sorrow, and the desire to overcome. Surely, we are striving to grow up in Christ and have His life and Spirit manifest in us. However, we have confidence that our eternal life with God is not dependent on our confession or works.

As you can see, these two doctrines, Kingdom and Grace, are mutually exclusive. You cannot believe both. Either you have to earn forgiveness from God, or you have to believe He paid it already for you. This is why we need to practice what Paul instructed us, to rightly divide the Word of truth, 2Tim.2:15. We must know what our doctrine teaches and apply what it says. If we try to apply doctrine from other dispensations, it will cause confusion if that doctrine teaches things other than what Paul wrote, which, by the way, is also the commands of the Lord, 1Cor.14:37.

Hope this provides some clarification.

God bless.