Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven (1 John 1:9)?
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Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven (1 John 1:9)? What is the difference between positional and relational forgiveness?
Source article: https://www.gotquestions.org/confession-forgiveness.html
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- Why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven? We're going to answer that question.
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- You can also discover more on GotQuestions .org. The Apostle Paul wrote,
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- To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the one he loves.
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- In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us, with all wisdom and understanding.
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- This forgiveness is referring to salvation, in which God has taken our sins and removed them from us, as far as the east is from the west.
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- This is the judicial forgiveness that God gives us upon receiving Jesus Christ as Savior.
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- All our past, present, and future sins are forgiven on a judicial basis, meaning that we will not suffer eternal judgment for our sins.
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- We still often suffer consequences of sin while we are here on earth. The difference between Ephesians 1 .6
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- -8 and 1 John 1 .9 is that John is dealing with what we call relational or familial forgiveness, like that of a father and a son.
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- For example, if a son does something wrong to his father, falling short of his expectations or rules, the son has hindered his fellowship with his father.
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- He remains the son of his father, but the relationship suffers. Their fellowship will be hindered until the son admits to his father that he has done wrong.
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- It works the same way with God. Our fellowship with Him is hindered until we confess our sin.
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- When we confess our sin to God, the fellowship is restored. This is relational forgiveness.
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- Positional Forgiveness or Judicial Forgiveness is that which is obtained by every believer in Christ.
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- In our position as members of the body of Christ, we have been forgiven of every sin we have ever committed or ever will commit.
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- The price paid by Christ on the cross has satisfied God's wrath against sin, and no further sacrifice or payment is necessary.
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- When Jesus said, It is finished, He meant it. Our Positional Forgiveness was obtained then and there.
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- Confession of sin will help to keep us from the discipline of the Lord. If we fail to confess sin, the discipline of the
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- Lord is sure to come until we do confess it. As stated previously, our sins are forgiven at salvation.
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- Positional Forgiveness. But our daily fellowship with God needs to stay in good standing. Relational Forgiveness.
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- Proper fellowship with God cannot happen with unconfessed sin in our lives.
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- Therefore, we need to confess our sins to God as soon as we are aware that we have sinned in order to maintain close fellowship with God.
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- That answers the question, why do we need to confess our sins if they have already been forgiven?
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- On our website, GotQuestions .org, you'll find a deeper discussion and recommended resources.
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