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Some Christian ministers have taught and continue to teach that believers don’t need to confess their sins for them to be forgiven. They make some claims to justify their teaching including those stated below:
1) Jesus Christ procured forgiveness for our past, present and future sins in His redemptive work on the Cross so believers don’t need to confess their sins and ask for forgiveness.
2) Believers have total forgiveness in Christ and there is continual cleansing of our sins by the blood of Jesus.
3) Forgiveness was purchased perfectly with our Lord’s precious blood, and so it is not contigent on how perfectly we are able to confess our sins.
4) Believer’s constant unceasing confession of his sins makes him sin conscious, and
5) The first chapter of 1John was written to the Gnostics or unbelievers, and not to believers.
However, this teaching is not sound doctrinally; it is erroneous. We need to understand that forgiveness is not automatically received and experienced by an individual just because it was legally purchased by Jesus in His redemptive work on the Cross. Forgiveness, like salvation and healing which were all procured by Christ, is a provision that needs to be appropriated by faith.
The believer must confess his sins to receive the release of forgiveness, freedom from guilt, condemnation and shame. Responding to God this way is not walking in sin consciousness. Rather, it is walking in grace consciousness.
GOD’S servant: Peter Collins Obeng
Grace Covenant Glory
