Dilligent Bible students always read and interpret the Bible in context and as one piece from Genesis to Revelation. This helps to clear the mind of the interpretor and the audience of seeming contradictions. Contradictions can only be in mind of the reader not the Bible. The Bible has to be clearly explained. The Word of Truth has to be rightly divided.
The sooner we acknowledge that we are the righteousness of God in Christ, the sooner sin consciousness begins to lose its grip or dominion over us. In this way the fullness of the revelation of God in Christ becomes a reality to us. Any positive thinking behind the pulpit masquerading as presentation of the Gospel of Christ bounces back because of the Spirit of Christ in us and the Word embedded in our spirit.
We keep repeating in this column that we didn't and don't confess sin to be saved but Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We read Romans 10:9-10, “[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
We don't find confession of sins that we committed willingly and unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly, by commission or by omission and all sorts of gibberish. Confession of sins for salvation is nowhere in the Bible. Those who do so struggle with sin consciousness. They never come to spiritual maturity. When prayer is called for, they spend hours and days confessing sins and their minds are blinded and never accept and receive forgiveness and remission of sins. This trivialises the finished/accomplished work of Christ.
Dear reader, the Gospel of Christ doesn't depend on our works or so-called good deeds but rides on the finished/accomplished work of Christ. It's unearned, undeserved, unmerited and humanly unattainable favour. Apostle Paul would ask, Galatians 3:2-3, “[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
We're in Christ justified and He is in us glorified. We have to enjoy the rest of God the Father. Hebrews 4:10, teaches us, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”
We also read John 6:28-29, “[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
We confess Jesus, our sin Bearer. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ministers to us, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” If you have been caught in the heretic web of sin consciousness, you may need to confess verses like this maybe for years till it is actualised in you. Internalise it till you're convinced that you're redeemed.
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We buttress with Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Confess it. Please remember that it is not a feeling but an acknowledgement (Greek epignosis) of truth. John 8:32 reads, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It's not religious error that frees you but knowledge of the truth.
Oftentimes preachers of another gospel use one verse to confuse you. They're called trouble makers. The Bible makes it clear that we cannot build doctrine that way. 2 Corinthians 13:1 records, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
The following verse has been used to keep us bound in sin consciousness. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The original manuscripts or the Greek Version would be ideal. It says, if we confess our sin. From the verses we read above from Romans, we found out that we're saved by speaking.
Christianity is a speaking Faith. The sin is a person, the Man Christ Jesus. Bring back to memory 2 Corinthians 5:21 quoted above. Jesus is our sin Bearer and our Righteousness. So we keep confessing Jesus from the moment we hear, accept and believe the Gospel of Christ till our mortal bodies put on immortality or till we sleep (die) or till the return of Christ.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
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