Are Christians Just Forgiven If They Confess? Or Do They Have God's Diplomatic Immunity From Sin?

Most Christians go to bed every night with I John 1:9 on their minds: "If we confess our sins

, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (KJV).

It's a beautiful passage except for this: it makes SIN-focused. As I say in another of these in this series, if we see ourselves as sinners -- even if saved by grace -- our thought is that we are sinners. A sinner can't see his righteousness in Christ.

This article is in two parts: "You Have Heard It Said," which is part 1, and "But I say Unto You," which is part 2. Jesus used this terminology a lot. I use it here to make the point that what we often hear is not what we lawyers call, "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

"You Have Heard It Said"

Was John schizophrenic? I John 3:9 (KJV) says: "Whoever is born of God does NOT commit sin, because God's seed remains in him, and he CANNOT sin because he is born of God." The same person could not have made both statements unless they were schizophrenic -- OR unless WE misunderstand him!

First, notice I use the KJV here. Most modern Bibles distort this last passage terribly. Second, I think we do totally misunderstand John. Both of these are far beyond this brief gospel truth.

The modern church is sin focused because it is laws, rules, and Bible principles to live that preachers so often focus on (Rom 7:5, Phil 3:9). This produces ignorance of God's righteousness in us (Rom 10:2). Precepts put the focus on US, not on God. The gospel puts the focus on GOD, not on us. Thus the difference between 'instructors in Christ,' who are preachers of the law, and 'fathers of the gospel' (I Tim 1:7, I Cor 4:15).

If you live by law, you will feel guilty and condemned. That is the JOB of the law (Rom 3:10, 19, Acts 15:10, II Cor 3:6, etc.)

Law includes all the precepts, principles, standards and pulpit exhortations that are imposed. Living this way, the last thing you think about at night is confessing any SIN you think of. You go to sleep sin-conscious, and wake up sin-conscious.

This is not living the gospel! The gospel is the power of God because it is a revelation of his righteousness in us (Rom 1:16, 5:17, 10:2, II Cor 5:21). It reveals who we are in Christ: "As Jesus is, so are we in this world" (I John 4:17). It reveals the finished work of the cross: our 'constitution' for life in God's Kingdom. The gospel causes us to go to sleep -- and wake up conscious of our righteousness in Christ, not our sin.

"But I Say Unto You"

The cross changed absolutely everything (II Cor 5:17). Living by anything else but the gospel, including God's Old Covenant law, is said to be 'darkness.' The gospel brings the light of truth and grace that came by Jesus (John 1:17). The gospel fulfills the word of God in us (Col 1:23-25). The gospel shows how Jesus abolished death and brought abundant life on earth, and eternal life to LIGHT -- giving us total life (II Tim 1:10).

"Repent and believe the gospel" (Mk 1:15). These were our Lord's very first words-- the foremost thing on his heart. When we REPENT, it's not usually sin we repent of. We repent of not knowing gospel truth (II Tim 2:25). Not living the gospel, Satan takes us captive at his will and keeps us blind, and with a veil over our heart (II Tim 2:26, II Cor 3:15-17, 4:4).

There is more to this article! Click on the link in the box below to continue reading.

by: Roger Himes

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