Regardez le visage de Jésus

2Co 4:2

Mais nous avons renoncé aux choses cachées de la malhonnêteté, ne marchant pas dans la ruse, et ne maniant pas la parole de Dieu avec tromperie ; mais, par la manifestation de la vérité, nous nous recommandons à la conscience de tout homme devant Dieu.

Les choses cachées ? Les choses cachées ” kryptos ” de la malhonnêteté ou de la honte.

De quoi Paul a-t-il parlé tout à l’heure à propos des choses cachées ?

Claude Vignon: Moses med lagens tavlor. NM 6820

Nous avons vu que Moïse a dû mettre un voile pour couvrir son visage. Pourquoi ? Pour que le peuple d’Israël ne puisse pas voir la plénitude de la gloire de Dieu. Ils ont reçu une forme de Dieu dans la loi que Moïse a reçue. Ils n’étaient pas prêts à croire jusqu’à la pleine révélation de la gloire de Dieu et c’est alors que le Christ est venu. La loi était le voile et c’est ce qu’Israël connaissait de Dieu pour le moment. Elle devait bientôt être surpassée par la gloire du Christ.

Il serait honteux et malhonnête de revenir en arrière, de dissimuler le véritable cœur de Dieu avec la loi. C’est pourtant ce qui se passe lorsque les Juifs religieux entrent dans les assemblées chrétiennes pour enseigner la circoncision, les baptêmes, les services au temple, etc. L’idée de travailler pour la grâce est à l’envers et les œuvres religieuses cachent le visage de Dieu qui brille pour nous dans le visage du Christ !

2Co 3:14

Mais leur esprit était aveuglé ; car jusqu’à ce jour, le même voile n’a pas été enlevé dans la lecture de l’ancien testament ; ce voile a été enlevé en Christ.

Le mot voilure que Paul utilise est de la même origine que caché. Vail est κάλυμμα ou kalumma vient du verbe cacher ou couvrir…..kalypto et Hidden est le mot kryptos κρυπτός. Mais Dieu révèle toutes choses et ne cache rien ! Dieu donne la révélation qui est le mot ” apokalypsis ” et cela signifie enlever (apo) la couverture (kalypsis).

Le diable est un menteur. Il est toujours en train de cacher et de couvrir la vérité. Si la vérité du Christ a été cachée, ce n’est pas la volonté de Dieu mais celle du diable. La seule raison pour laquelle l’esprit des Juifs et de tous les hommes était recouvert d’un voile de loi était que c’est tout ce que leur incrédulité pouvait voir à l’époque. Dieu a été patient pendant des millénaires.

Le mystère a été gardé secret et traité avec amour. Le mystère du Christ a été gardé secret par leur incapacité à voir à travers leurs lois la gloire à venir. Mais Dieu a gardé ce mystère en sécurité dans sa patrie afin que, le moment venu, il soit accompli par le sacrifice et la résurrection de son cher Fils.

Rom 16:25

Or, à celui qui a le pouvoir de vous affermir selon mon Évangile et la prédication de Jésus-Christ, selon la révélation G602 du mystère, qui a été tenu secret depuis le commencement du monde,

Le diable aime les mystères et tout garder secret. Dieu veut exposer tous les secrets et révéler toutes les choses ! Le diable et ses serviteurs ont toujours dû utiliser des sociétés secrètes, où seuls les plus fiers et les plus mauvais connaissent les secrets. Dieu veut répandre toute la vérité et la diffuser. Les serviteurs de Dieu révèlent les mystères et les serviteurs de l’ennemi

essayer de les dissimuler. Une bonne méthode consiste à garder les mots de la loi devant soi pour ne pas voir la grâce. Et l’œuvre de Jésus est notre grâce !

2Co 9:8

Et Dieu peut faire abonder toute grâce envers vous, afin que, disposant toujours de toute suffisance en toutes choses, vous abondiez pour toute bonne œuvre.

Il n’y a aucune œuvre bonne qui ne vienne pas de cette grâce. La grâce vient d’abord et ensuite nous pouvons faire de bonnes œuvres. Mais sans voir la grâce et la gloire de Dieu, nous ne pouvons que faire de mauvaises œuvres.

Luc 8:17

Car il n’y a rien de secret, G2927 qui ne soit manifesté, ni de caché, qui ne soit connu et ne se répande.

Luc 11:33

Personne n’allume une bougie, et ne la met dans un lieu secret, ni sous le boisseau, mais sur un chandelier, afin que ceux qui entrent voient la lumière.

Dieu est la Lumière du monde. Il veut que tous voient et que tout soit révélé. Lorsque nous avons cette révélation, nous devons la faire connaître à tous. Or, Jésus-Christ est cette lumière et cette révélation de Dieu. Nous prêchons donc le Christ ressuscité et non plus la loi. Enlevez le masque de la loi pour que vous puissiez voir son visage ! Apprenez à connaître la personne et tombez amoureux. Alors vous n’avez plus besoin d’un livre de règles sur “le guide des idiots comment aimer votre Seigneur en dix étapes faciles”.

Nous devons prêcher le Christ et non plus la loi de Moïse.

Co 4:3

Mais si notre évangile est caché, il est caché à ceux qui sont perdus :

Si nous continuons à enseigner la loi de Moïse à la place de la grâce en Christ, les gens resteront perdus.

La bonne nouvelle de la grâce est cachée derrière les règles.

Uncover the face of Christ

2Co 4:2

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

The hidden things? The hidden things « kryptos » of dishonesty or shame.

What did we see Paul talking about just a little while ago that realates tp hidden things?

Claude Vignon: Moses med lagens tavlor. NM 6820

We saw that Moses had to put a vail on to cover his face. Why? So that the people of Israel could not see the fulness of the glory of God. They were given a form of GOd in the Law that Moses received.  They were not ready to believe to the point of the full revelation of Gods glory and that was when Christ came. The law was the vail and that is what Israel knew of God for the time. It was soon to be surpassed by the Glory of Christ.

It would be a shame and dishonest thing to go backwards, cover up God’s real heart with the Law. Yet that is what happens when the religious Jews entered the Christian assemblies to teach circumcision, baptisms, temple services etc. The idea of working for the grace is backwards and the religious works cover up the face of God that is shinnnig to us in the face of Christ!

2Co 3:14

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

The word vail that Paul used is of the same origin as hidden. Vail is  κάλυμμα or kalumma comes from the verb to hide or cover…..kalypto  and Hidden is the word kryptos κρυπτός.  But God will reveal all things and doesn’t hide anything! God gives revelation which is the word « apokalypsis » and that means to take away (apo) the covering (kalypsis).

The devil is a liar. He is always hiding and covering the truth. If the truth of Christ was hidden itw as not God’s will but the devil’s. The only reason that the minds of the Jews and all men were covered by a vail of Law was that is all their unbelief could see at the time. God was patient for millenia.

The mysterty was kept gaurded and handled with love. The mystery of Christ was kept secret by their inablility to see through their laws to the Glory to come. Yet God kept this mystery safe in His bossom so that when the time came it would be fulfilled but the sacrifice and resurrection of His own dear Son.

Rom 16:25

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation^G602 of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

The devil loves mysteries and while keep secrets. God wants to expose all secrets and reveal all things! The devil and his servants always have had to use secret societies, where only the most proud and evil knows the secrets. God is in the business of pouring all the truth out an broadcasting it. The servants of God are revealing the mysteries and the enemies servants try to conceal them. One great method is to keep the words of the law in your face so you cannot see the Grace. And the work of Jesus is our grace!

2Co 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work

There is no work that is good that does not come from  this Grace.  First comes Grace and then we can do good works. But without seeing Gods Grace and glory we can only do bad works.

Luk 8:17

For nothing is secret,^G2927 that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Luk 11:33

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

God is the Light of the world. HE wants all to see and all to be revealed. When we have this revelation we are to make it known to all. Now Jesus Christ is that Light and revelation of God so we preach the Risen Christ not the law anymore.  Take the mask of the law off so you can see His face! Get to know the person and fall in love. Then you no longer need a rule book on “the idiots guide how to love your Lord in ten easy steps”

We are to preach Christ no longer the Law of Moses.

Co 4:3

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

If we continue to teach the Law of Moses in place of the Grace in Christ people will remain lost.

The good news of Grace is hidden behind the rules.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

The world can be a dark place, but God has given you a Light who is greater than the darkness. Jesus has overcome the world, conquered death, and there is no trial that unsettles him. Jesus smiles at every storm.

The answer to death is looking into the face of Christ.  So take the mask off!

Do not hide it in a basket of laws and rules as the devil would have you do.

2 Corinthians 3:15

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;

(a) Moses represents the law. A Moses-message is anything that promotes rules and regulations. “The law shows me how to live; it teaches me how to please the Lord.”

(b) Whenever Moses is read. The old covenant’s fulfillment coincided with the tearing of the temple veil, but in the minds of some, the veil remains. It endures whenever Moses is read and people are put under law. “The law shows me how to live; it teaches me how to please the Lord.” Such a lie veils the heart and cheapens the gospel. To read Moses – to put your trust in your law-keeping in light of what Christ has done – is spiritual adultery. It’s approaching the Lord with an unauthorized sacrifice. It’s bringing your own sandwiches to his table of abundance.

(c) A veil lies over their heart. The ministry of law blinds us to the grace of God because it causes us to focus on ourselves and our works instead of Jesus and his. “We are not under law but grace” (Rom. 6:14). Believers ought to have nothing to do with the law because living under law amounts to spiritual adultery. It’s cheating on Jesus (see Rom. 7:4).

When we take the mask or vail off we can stop being religious actors and get real with God

We must stop trying to change everything and let Christ change us

We must stop hiding behind our goodie goodie religion and be broken but honest with Him.  Don’t be afraid to take the mask off and look Him in HIs face. A covered face is not going to do any good. The glory of God is in Jesus Christ face and as we look into His face we become more and more like Him. We are changed by Grace not that we can do anything without it.

Free Spirit in your sails.

2Co 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Lord is Jesus Christ since He rose over all. Before He was Jesus the man. He was the Son of God born into the world as a man. HE died like a man. He was not the Father but Jesus was His Son. When he was anointed He was called Christ. The Messiah, the anointed one who came to save. But He did not save us until He died and rose from the dead. Then He became the Lord Jesus Christ and He is this spirit.

And what a spirit it is! He brought us the Spirit of life, eternal life. He know lives in the inner man. He is our inner man, as He came to dwell in us forever as the Spirit. The gift that the Father and Jesus Christ placed in us is the Spirit of the Lord, Christ in us and like the Father it is called Pneuma Hagion or Holy spirit because that is what we have …..That is the trinity I believe in.

2Co 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When the law is taken away we see the Lord. When the masks and veils are taken away, then we can see again. We are no longer blind by the laws and rules that showed us we need help!

We needed a Savior that could take away all the Law and give us freedom

That freedom came not from hiding the truth or covering it in religion. This freedom came by the Spirit of Christ revealing the Truth. He is the Light and the Glory of God.

All of us need a savior not a judge. All of us need healing and revelation not another doctor.

Moses wore the vail of the Law

We who have accepted Jesus,still have masks and hide the truth behind vails. It is time to take them off and see the Glory of God, the Christ in each other’s face. It is time to stop trying to change the world and let Him change us. Then we can change the world by shinning the glory of God from our beautiful faces to the world.

The is what open face means! It means to uncover our faces!

We need no more laws or rules to separate us from His love. We need a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ who is alive and within each of us. We need to look to the Light and that Light of love will burn all the acting religious and so politically correct away.

The word for “With Open face” is “Having an unveiled or uncovered face” Have you ever tried to see something more clearly by covering your face? Hypocricy is blindness, it is wearing a mask to impress others. Yet you are not impressing the Lord. Take it off!

Have you ever seen better relation formed among people wearing masks? Are the smiling at you are are the not? Who could tell? How can you get to know anyone closely and more intimately with a covering over your face? Moses could not get more intimate with the people. The Law was in the way. When we follow rule that go against the rules of love and separate ourselves we lose sight of the freedom and intimacy that godliness is supposed to be.

We cover our faces with our good works to impress God. But works of the law never did impressed God. Only the blood of Jesus did, and that took all the masks and vails off! And when we remove these barriers of our own making, we can see God. He is revealed finally by His own Spirit of grace. We are not saved by anything we do, only by what He did!

“Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord” When we take off the cataracts of the Old law look at the Gospel of Grace we are saved. It is not a one time even to be saved, you know. It is constant daily salvation and we are being saved and formed until that perfect day when we shall be completed in Him. That will be when Jesus returns to finish conquering death.

We cried out once “Lord save me!” and it was done? Perhaps it was done in our spirit and we where sealed. But sealed for what? If we made Him Lord He is not going anywhere. He has placed His seed of liberty in our hearts. No liberty to sin and be slaves to it. But liberty to be totally free from it.

Since we are in this dead and evil world we need to be saved daily from it. So we should be looking for Him to save us more and more until that perfect day. We should be always looking at The Lord through the Gospel of Grace as we read it. He is in this scripture where we are beholding as in a mirror the reflection of the glory of the Lord. But that Glory lives in us.

Often we try to be religious and force God to do things He already is doing in our life. If only we would let Him. We can if we took off the pretenses and acting and had a real talk with Him. We try to renew our minds as Romans 12 taught us but we have tried to do it ourselves.

Perhaps memorizing more scriptures in the Bible, more classes, videos or meetings. Perhaps more paying the pope or ministers and more and more works. But without a relationship with Love! We cannot renew our selves only He can by His spirit of grace.

In Romans 12:2 it said

Rom 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

But notice that the transformation is passive not an active verb. We allow ourselves to be changed as the Spirit renews our minds. And as we are changes by a new heart and a new kind of thinking we will not fit into the world systems.

But how can we be changed if we keep on the Vail of Moses and try to work our way there to liberty? IT cannot work with out beholding Jesus and asking Him “Save me Lord and keep on saving me Lord” It is a relation we have entered for the rest of our days when we said “You are my Lord!” And He said “I’m not going anywhere I have always been here with you!”

We can then be changed into the same image as the Lord. As He is so are we do be in this world. Not part of it, but in it. Not allowing the darkness in but shining the Light of Christ into it. Not being filled with the world but passing through it like a frigate fully sailed with His spirit.

Espíritu libre en tus velas

2Co 3:17

Y el Señor es el Espíritu; y donde está el Espíritu del Señor, allí hay libertad.

El Señor es Jesucristo desde que resucitó sobre todos. Antes El era Jesús el hombre. El fue el Hijo de Dios nacido en el mundo como hombre. El murio como un hombre. Él no era el Padre pero Jesús era Su Hijo. Cuando fue ungido fue llamado Cristo. El Mesías, el ungido que vino a salvar. Pero Él no nos salvó hasta que murió y resucitó de entre los muertos. Entonces se convirtió en el Señor Jesucristo y Él es este espíritu.

¡Y qué espíritu es! Nos trajo el Espíritu de vida, la vida eterna. El sabe que vive en el hombre interior. Él es nuestro hombre interior, ya que Él vino a morar en nosotros para siempre como el Espíritu. El regalo que el Padre y Jesucristo pusieron en nosotros es el Espíritu del Señor, Cristo en nosotros y como el Padre se llama Pneuma Hagion o espíritu Santo porque eso es lo que tenemos …..Esa es la trinidad en la que creo.

2Co 3:18

Pero todos nosotros, mirando a cara descubierta como en un espejo la gloria del Señor, somos transformados de gloria en gloria en la misma imagen, como por el Espíritu del Señor.

Cuando la ley es quitada vemos al Señor. Cuando se quitan las máscaras y los velos, entonces podemos ver de nuevo. Ya no estamos ciegos por las leyes y reglas que nos mostraron que necesitamos ayuda.

Necesitamos un Salvador que nos quite toda la Ley y nos de libertad.

Esa libertad no vino de esconder la verdad o cubrirla en religión. Esta libertad vino por el Espíritu de Cristo revelando la Verdad. Él es la Luz y la Gloria de Dios.

Todos nosotros necesitamos un salvador no un juez. Todos nosotros necesitamos sanidad y revelación no otro doctor.

Nosotros que hemos aceptado a Jesus, todavia tenemos mascaras y escondemos la verdad detras de vails. Es tiempo de quitárnoslas y ver la Gloria de Dios, el Cristo en el rostro de cada uno. Es hora de dejar de intentar cambiar el mundo y dejar que Él nos cambie a nosotros. Entonces podremos cambiar el mundo haciendo brillar la gloria de Dios desde nuestros bellos rostros hacia el mundo.

¡Eso es lo que significa abrir la cara! ¡Significa descubrir nuestros rostros!

No necesitamos mas leyes o reglas que nos separen de Su amor. Necesitamos una relación con el Señor Jesucristo que está vivo y dentro de cada uno de nosotros. Necesitamos mirar a la Luz y esa Luz de amor quemará toda la actuación religiosa y tan políticamente correcta.

La palabra para “Con la cara abierta” es “Tener la cara descubierta” ¿Alguna vez has tratado de ver algo más claramente cubriéndote la cara? Hipocresía es ceguera, es usar una máscara para impresionar a otros. Sin embargo, no estás impresionando al Señor. Quítatela.

¿Has visto alguna vez que se formen mejores relaciones entre personas que llevan máscaras? ¿Los que te sonríen son los que no? ¿Quién puede saberlo? ¿Cómo puedes conocer a alguien más de cerca y más íntimamente con una cubierta sobre tu rostro? Moisés no podía intimar más con el pueblo. La Ley estorbaba. Cuando seguimos reglas que van en contra de las reglas del amor y nos separamos perdemos de vista la libertad y la intimidad que se supone debe ser la piedad.

Nos cubrimos la cara con nuestras buenas obras para impresionar a Dios. Pero las obras de la ley nunca impresionaron a Dios. Solo la sangre de Jesus lo hizo, y eso quito todas las mascaras y velos. Y cuando quitamos estas barreras de nuestra propia creación, podemos ver a Dios. Él es revelado finalmente por Su propio Espíritu de gracia. No somos salvos por nada que hagamos, ¡solo por lo que El hizo!

“Mirando como en un espejo la gloria del Señor” Cuando nos quitamos las cataratas de la Antigua ley miramos el Evangelio de la Gracia somos salvos. No se trata de ser salvo una sola vez. Es una constante salvación diaria y estamos siendo salvados y formados hasta ese día perfecto cuando seremos completados en El. Eso será cuando Jesús regrese para terminar de vencer a la muerte.

¿Gritamos una vez “¡Señor sálvame!” y se hizo? Quizás fue hecho en nuestro espíritu y fuimos sellados. ¿Pero sellados para qué? Si le hemos hecho Señor, no se irá a ninguna parte. El ha puesto Su semilla de libertad en nuestros corazones. No libertad para pecar y ser esclavos de ello. Pero libertad para ser totalmente libres de él.

Ya que estamos en este mundo muerto y malvado necesitamos ser salvados diariamente de el. Asi que debemos estar buscando que El nos salve mas y mas hasta ese dia perfecto. Debemos estar siempre mirando al Señor a través del Evangelio de la Gracia mientras lo leemos. El esta en esta escritura donde estamos contemplando como en un espejo el reflejo de la gloria del Señor. Pero esa Gloria vive en nosotros.

A menudo tratamos de ser religiosos y forzar a Dios a hacer cosas que El ya esta haciendo en nuestra vida. Si le dejáramos. Podemos si nos quitamos las pretensiones y la actuación y tenemos una conversación real con El. Tratamos de renovar nuestras mentes como Romanos 12 nos enseño pero hemos tratado de hacerlo nosotros mismos.

Tal vez memorizando mas escrituras en la Biblia, mas clases, videos o reuniones. Tal vez pagando mas al papa o ministros y mas y mas obras. ¡Pero sin una relacion con el Amor! No podemos renovarnos a nosotros mismos solo El puede por Su espiritu de gracia.

En Romanos 12:2 dice

Romanos 12:2

Y no os conforméis a este siglo, sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que comprobéis cuál sea la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta.

Pero note que la transformación es pasiva no un verbo activo. Nos permitimos ser cambiados a medida que el Espíritu renueva nuestras mentes. Y a medida que somos cambiados por un nuevo corazón y un nuevo tipo de pensamiento no encajaremos en los sistemas del mundo.

¿Pero cómo podemos ser cambiados si nos mantenemos en el Velo de Moisés y tratamos de trabajar nuestro camino hacia la libertad? No podemos trabajar sin contemplar a Jesús y pedirle “Sálvame Señor y sigue salvándome Señor” Es una relación en la que hemos entrado para el resto de nuestros días cuando dijimos “¡Tú eres mi Señor!”. Y Él dijo “¡No me voy a ninguna parte siempre he estado aquí contigo!”.

Entonces podemos ser transformados a la misma imagen que el Señor. Como Él es, así somos nosotros en este mundo. No parte de él, sino en él. No permitiendo que entren las tinieblas, sino iluminándolo con la Luz de Cristo. No estar llenos del mundo, sino pasar a través de él como una fragata completamente navegada con Su espiritu!

Esprit libre dans vos voiles

2Co 3:17

Or le Seigneur est cet Esprit, et là où est l’Esprit du Seigneur, là est la liberté.

Le Seigneur est Jésus-Christ depuis qu’Il s’est élevé au-dessus de tous. Avant Il était Jésus l’homme. Il était le Fils de Dieu né dans le monde comme un homme. Il est mort comme un homme. Il n’était pas le Père mais Jésus était son Fils. Quand il a été oint, il a été appelé Christ. Le Messie, l’oint qui est venu pour sauver. Mais il ne nous a pas sauvés avant de mourir et de ressusciter des morts. Il est alors devenu le Seigneur Jésus-Christ et il est cet esprit.

Et quel esprit c’est ! Il nous a apporté l’Esprit de vie, la vie éternelle. Il vit dans l’homme intérieur. Il est notre homme intérieur, car il est venu habiter en nous pour toujours en tant qu’Esprit. Le don que le Père et Jésus-Christ ont placé en nous est l’Esprit du Seigneur, le Christ en nous et comme le Père il est appelé Pneuma Hagion ou Saint-Esprit parce que c’est ce que nous avons …..C’est la trinité en laquelle je crois.

2Co 3:18

Mais nous tous, le visage ouvert, contemplant comme dans un verre la gloire du Seigneur, nous sommes transformés en une même image, de gloire en gloire, comme par l’Esprit du Seigneur.

Moïse devait porter un voile pour couvrir son visage.

Lorsque la loi est supprimée, nous voyons le Seigneur. Quand les masques et les voiles sont enlevés, alors nous pouvons voir à nouveau. Nous ne sommes plus aveuglés par les lois et les règles qui nous ont montré que nous avions besoin d’aide !

Nous avions besoin d’un Sauveur qui pouvait supprimer toute la loi et nous donner la liberté.

Cette liberté n’est pas venue en cachant la vérité ou en la couvrant de religion. Cette liberté est venue par l’Esprit du Christ révélant la Vérité. Il est la Lumière et la Gloire de Dieu.

Nous avons tous besoin d’un sauveur et non d’un juge. Nous avons tous besoin de guérison et de révélation, pas d’un autre médecin.

Nous qui avons accepté Jésus, nous avons encore des masques et nous cachons la vérité derrière des voiles. Il est temps de les enlever et de voir la Gloire de Dieu, le Christ dans le visage de chacun. Il est temps d’arrêter d’essayer de changer le monde et de le laisser nous changer. Nous pourrons alors changer le monde en faisant briller la gloire de Dieu sur nos beaux visages.

C’est ce que signifie “visage ouvert” ! Cela signifie découvrir nos visages !

Nous n’avons plus besoin de lois ou de règles pour nous séparer de son amour. Nous avons besoin d’une relation avec le Seigneur Jésus-Christ qui est vivant et en chacun de nous. Nous devons regarder vers la Lumière et cette Lumière d’amour brûlera tout ce qui est religieux et politiquement correct.

Le mot pour “With Open face” est “Having an unveiled or uncovered face” Avez-vous déjà essayé de voir quelque chose plus clairement en vous couvrant le visage ? L’hypocrisie est un aveuglement, c’est porter un masque pour impressionner les autres. Mais vous n’impressionnez pas le Seigneur. Enlevez-le !

Avez-vous déjà vu de meilleures relations se former entre des personnes portant des masques ? Les gens vous sourient-ils ou non ? Qui pourrait le dire ? Comment pouvez-vous apprendre à connaître quelqu’un de plus près et plus intimement avec un masque sur le visage ? Moïse ne pouvait pas devenir plus intime avec le peuple. La loi était un obstacle. Lorsque nous suivons des règles qui vont à l’encontre des règles de l’amour et que nous nous séparons, nous perdons de vue la liberté et l’intimité que la piété est censée être.

Nous couvrons nos visages avec nos bonnes œuvres pour impressionner Dieu. Mais les œuvres de la loi n’ont jamais impressionné Dieu. Seul le sang de Jésus l’a fait, et il a enlevé tous les masques et les voiles ! Et lorsque nous enlevons ces barrières de notre propre fabrication, nous pouvons voir Dieu. Il se révèle enfin par son propre Esprit de grâce. Nous ne sommes pas sauvés par ce que nous faisons, mais seulement par ce qu’Il a fait !

“Lorsque nous enlevons les cataractes de l’ancienne loi et que nous regardons l’Evangile de la grâce, nous sommes sauvés. Il ne s’agit pas d’être sauvé une seule fois, vous savez. C’est un salut quotidien constant et nous sommes sauvés et formés jusqu’à ce jour parfait où nous serons achevés en Lui. Ce sera lorsque Jésus reviendra pour finir de vaincre la mort.

Nous avons crié une fois “Seigneur, sauve-moi !” et cela a été fait ? Peut-être que cela a été fait dans notre esprit et que nous avons été scellés. Mais scellés pour quoi ? Si nous l’avons fait Seigneur, il ne va nulle part. Il a placé sa semence de liberté dans nos cœurs. Pas la liberté de pécher et d’être esclaves du péché. Mais la liberté d’en être totalement libérés.

Puisque nous sommes dans ce monde mort et mauvais, nous avons besoin d’être sauvés quotidiennement de ce monde. Nous devons donc chercher à ce qu’il nous sauve de plus en plus jusqu’à ce jour parfait. Nous devrions toujours regarder le Seigneur à travers l’Evangile de la Grâce tel que nous le lisons. Il est dans cette écriture où nous contemplons comme dans un miroir le reflet de la gloire du Seigneur. Mais cette gloire vit en nous.

Souvent, nous essayons d’être religieux et de forcer Dieu à faire des choses qu’il fait déjà dans notre vie. Si seulement nous le laissions faire. Nous le pouvons si nous enlevons les faux-semblants et la comédie et si nous avons une vraie conversation avec Lui. Nous essayons de renouveler notre esprit comme Romains 12 nous l’a enseigné, mais nous avons essayé de le faire nous-mêmes.

Peut-être en mémorisant plus d’écritures dans la Bible, plus de cours, de vidéos ou de réunions. Peut-être que nous payons plus le pape ou les ministres et que nous travaillons de plus en plus. Mais sans une relation avec l’Amour ! Nous ne pouvons pas nous renouveler nous-mêmes, seul Lui le peut par son esprit de grâce.

Dans Romains 12:2, il est dit

Rom 12:2

Ne vous conformez pas au monde présent, mais soyez transformés par le renouvellement de votre intelligence, afin de découvrir quelle est la volonté de Dieu, bonne, agréable et parfaite.

Mais remarquez que la transformation est un verbe passif et non actif. Nous nous laissons changer par l’Esprit qui renouvelle notre esprit. Et comme nous sommes changés par un nouveau cœur et un nouveau type de pensée, nous ne nous adapterons pas aux systèmes du monde.

Mais comment pouvons-nous être changés si nous restons sur la Voile de Moïse et essayons de trouver notre chemin vers la liberté ? C’est une relation dans laquelle nous sommes entrés pour le reste de nos jours lorsque nous avons dit “Tu es mon Seigneur”. Et Lui de répondre “Je ne vais nulle part, j’ai toujours été ici avec toi !”.

Nous pouvons alors être transformés à la même image que le Seigneur. Comme Il est, nous devons être dans ce monde. Nous n’en faisons pas partie, mais nous y sommes. Ne pas laisser entrer les ténèbres, mais y faire briller la lumière du Christ. Ne pas être remplis du monde, mais le traverser comme une frégate qui navigue avec son ésprit!

Le pardon est-il quelque chose que Dieu fait ou donne ?

Comment la croix a redéfini le pardon

Posted on juin 20, 2012 by Paul Ellis // 46 Comments

Lorsque vous péchez contre quelqu’un, votre relation avec cette personne est mise à rude épreuve. Il y a cette chose qui se met entre vous deux. Pour être réconcilié, vous devez vous occuper de cette Chose.

Jésus a dit que si vous apportez votre offrande à l’autel et que vous vous souvenez que votre frère a quelque chose contre vous, allez vous occuper de cette chose (Matthieu 5:23).

Il a également dit que si votre frère a péché contre vous sept fois dans la journée et que sept fois il dit “Je me repens”, pardonnez-lui. “Renvoie cette Chose” (voir Luc 17:4).

Vous le saviez, n’est-ce pas ?

Mais voici ce qu’il en est. Dieu n’est pas comme vous et moi. Il n’attend pas que tu agisses avant de s’occuper de ta Chose.

Cette chose qui était entre toi et lui – ton péché – il s’en est occupé. Il t’a déjà pardonné. Pardonner signifie littéralement renvoyer, et sur la croix, vos péchés et mes péchés ont été renvoyés.

Autant l’est est éloigné de l’ouest, autant il a éloigné de nous nos transgressions. (Psaume 103:12)

La chose n’est pas la chose

Alors, dans le vaste monde du sport, à quoi pensait Jean lorsqu’il a écrit : “Si tu confesses tes péchés, Dieu te pardonnera” (1 Jean 1:9) ?

Techniquement, ce n’est pas vrai. Dieu ne vous pardonnera pas parce qu’il vous a pardonné. Dieu ne juge pas deux fois le même péché et, à la croix, il a jugé tous les péchés. Jésus ne mourra qu’une fois et il l’a déjà fait.

Il ne reste plus de sacrifice pour les péchés.

Vous pensez peut-être que Dieu est en colère contre vous à cause de votre péché – votre Chose – mais l’Évangile dit que Dieu ne compte plus vos péchés contre vous. En ce qui concerne Dieu, la Chose n’est plus la Chose.

Alors pourquoi Jean dit-il que Dieu pardonnera nos péchés comme si c’était quelque chose qu’il n’avait pas déjà fait ?

Dans un article récent sur 1 Jean 1:9, nous avons vu que Jean citait une écriture de l’Ancien Testament pour éclairer une vérité du Nouveau Testament. Dans cet article, nous avons examiné le mot “confesser”, mais aujourd’hui, je veux examiner le mot “pardonner”, car le choix des mots de Jean est plutôt étrange.

Jean décrit le pardon comme un verbe (aphiemi en grec) alors que les autres auteurs du Nouveau Testament décrivent généralement le pardon comme un nom (aphesis). Cette énigme m’a incité à faire quelques calculs et voici ce que j’ai trouvé : avant la croix, le pardon de Dieu est presque toujours décrit comme un verbe. Après la croix, il est presque toujours un nom.

Vous voyez ?

Avant la croix, Dieu était en relation avec les Israélites sur la base de l’alliance de la loi. “Si vous faites A, je ferai B. Si vous vous détournez du péché, je pardonnerai vos péchés et je guérirai votre pays, etc.”.

Cela s’appelle le pardon conditionnel et c’est ce que Jésus a prêché avant la croix : “Si vous pardonnez aux autres, Dieu vous pardonnera.” C’est œil pour œil et verbe pour verbe.

Cat_in_hat

Les noms de la nouvelle alliance

Mais après la croix, tout a changé. La loi a été accomplie, la grâce a été révélée et les verbes sont devenus des noms.

Le pardon n’était plus conditionné par le fait que vous fassiez A, B et C. Le pardon est devenu un cadeau gratuit payé par le sang de l’Agneau. Le Seigneur ressuscité a été le premier à l’annoncer :

Il leur a dit : “Voici ce qui est écrit : Le Christ souffrira et ressuscitera des morts le troisième jour, et la repentance et le pardon (aphesis – un nom) des péchés seront prêchés en son nom à toutes les nations, à commencer par Jérusalem.” (Luc 24:46-47)

Prenez un moment pour vérifier ce passage dans votre propre Bible. Que dit-elle ? Est-il écrit “repentance pour le pardon” ou “repentance et pardon” ? La différence est énorme.

La repentance pour le pardon est ce que Jean le Baptiste a prêché. C’est un pardon conditionné par le fait que vous vous détourniez du péché. C’est un verbe pour un verbe.

Mais ce n’est pas ce que Jésus a dit après la croix.

Dans Luc 24, Jésus a dit : “A partir de maintenant, le pardon est un substantif. Le pardon n’est pas quelque chose que Dieu fait, c’est quelque chose qu’il a fait.”

C’est clair dans la King James : “La repentance et la rémission des péchés doivent être prêchées en son nom parmi toutes les nations.”

Le pardon qui a eu lieu est appelé rémission. Quand nos péchés ont-ils été remis ? Sur la croix (voir Matthieu 26:28 et Hébreux 9:22).

Et c’est ce que Jésus a dit que nous devions prêcher – des noms, pas des verbes ; des dons, pas des œuvres.

Le pardon n’est pas quelque chose à gagner mais à recevoir

Jésus a dit que le pardon des péchés serait proclamé en son nom et c’est exactement ce que Pierre, Paul et les autres apôtres ont fait (voir Actes 5:31, 13:38). Ils ont proclamé la bonne nouvelle du pardon – le pardon en tant que substantif, le pardon en tant qu’affaire conclue – et ont invité les gens à y croire. Ils ont encouragé les gens à recevoir le cadeau payé par Jésus.

Mais Jean ne l’a pas fait.

Il a dit : ” Si tu te confesses, Dieu pardonnera “. Jean a utilisé l’ancien verbe au lieu du nom de la nouvelle alliance.

Pourquoi ? Jean n’était-il pas dans la pièce lorsque Jésus a fait son annonce dans Luc 24 ? N’avait-il pas compris qu’une nouvelle et meilleure alliance était en place et que le pardon de Dieu nous était accordé selon la richesse de sa grâce ?

Non, Jean utilise l’ancien verbe pour la même raison que Paul dans Romains 4:7-8 – ils citaient tous deux des passages de l’Ancien Testament. En effet, ils citaient tous deux la même écriture de l’Ancien Testament – Psaume 32:1 “Heureux ceux dont les péchés sont pardonnés, dont les fautes sont pardonnées” (GNB).

Jean n’a pas prêché le pardon conditionnel et nous ne devrions pas non plus le faire. Nous devrions dire aux gens la même chose que Jésus a dit à ses disciples, et c’est ce que fait Jean :

Je vous écris, petits enfants, parce que vos péchés vous ont été pardonnés à cause de son nom. (1 Jean 2:12)

Le pardon n’est pas quelque chose pour lequel il faut travailler, mais un cadeau à recevoir.

Traduit avec www.DeepL.com/Translator (version gratuite)

Traduit avec www.DeepL.com/Translator (version gratuite)

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CÓMO LA CRUZ REDEFINIÓ EL PERDÓN

Publicado el 20 junio, 2012 por Paul Ellis // 46 Comentarios

Cuando pecas contra alguien, tu relación con esa persona se pone en tensión. Hay una Cosa que se interpone entre los dos. Para ser reconciliado necesitas tratar con la Cosa.

Jesús dijo que si estás llevando tu ofrenda al altar y recuerdas que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti, ve y trata con esa Cosa (Mt 5:23).

También dijo que si tu hermano peca contra ti siete veces en un día y siete veces dice: “Me arrepiento”, perdónalo. “Despide a esa Cosa” (ver Lucas 17:4).

Lo sabías, ¿verdad?

Pero aquí está la cosa. Dios no es como tú o como yo. Él no espera a que tú actúes antes de hacer lo suyo con tu Cosa.

Esa cosa que estaba entre tú y él – tu pecado – él ya lo ha tratado. Ya te ha perdonado. Perdonar significa literalmente alejar, y en la cruz tus pecados y mis pecados fueron alejados.

Cuanto está lejos el oriente del occidente, hizo alejar de nosotros nuestras rebeliones. (Sal 103:12)

LA COSA NO ES LA COSA

¿En qué estaba pensando Juan cuando escribió: “Si confiesas tus pecados, Dios te perdonará” (1 Juan 1:9)?

Técnicamente, no es cierto. Dios no te perdonará porque te haya perdonado. Dios no juzga el mismo pecado dos veces y en la cruz juzgó todo pecado. Jesús sólo morirá una vez y ya lo hizo.

No queda otro sacrificio por los pecados.

Puedes pensar que Dios esta enojado contigo a causa de tu pecado – tu Cosa – pero el evangelio dice que Dios ya no cuenta tus pecados contra ti. Para Dios la Cosa ya no es la Cosa.

Entonces, ¿por qué dice Juan que Dios perdonará nuestros pecados como si fuera algo que no hubiera hecho ya?

En un artículo reciente sobre 1 Juan 1:9, vimos que Juan estaba citando una escritura del Antiguo Testamento para iluminar una verdad del Nuevo Testamento. En ese artículo analizamos la palabra “confesar”, pero hoy quiero analizar la palabra “perdonar” porque la elección de palabras que hace Juan es bastante extraña.

Juan describe el perdón como un verbo (aphiemi en griego) cuando otros escritores del Nuevo Testamento suelen describir el perdón como un sustantivo (aphesis). Este enigma me llevó a hacer algunas cuentas y esto es lo que encontré: antes de la cruz, el perdón de Dios casi siempre se describe como un verbo. Después de la cruz, casi siempre es un sustantivo.

¿Lo veis?

Antes de la cruz Dios se relacionaba con los israelitas sobre la base del pacto de guardar la ley. “Si haces A, yo haré B. Si te apartas del pecado, perdonaré tus pecados y sanaré tu tierra, etc.”.

Esto se llama perdón condicional y es lo que Jesús predicó antes de la cruz: “Si perdonáis a los demás, Dios os perdonará a vosotros”. Es ojo por ojo y verbo por verbo.

Cat_in_hat

SUSTANTIVOS DEL NUEVO PACTO

Pero después de la cruz, todo cambió. Se cumplió la ley, se reveló la gracia y los verbos se convirtieron en sustantivos.

El perdón ya no estaba condicionado a que hicieras A, B y C. El perdón se convirtió en un don gratuito pagado por la sangre del Cordero. El Señor Resucitado fue el primero en anunciar esto:

Les dijo: “Esto es lo que está escrito: El Cristo padecerá y resucitará de entre los muertos al tercer día, y se predicará en su nombre el arrepentimiento y el perdón (aphesis – un sustantivo) de los pecados a todas las naciones, comenzando por Jerusalén.” (Lucas 24:46-47)

Tómate un momento para revisar ese pasaje en tu propia Biblia. ¿Qué dice? ¿Dice “arrepentimiento para perdón” o “arrepentimiento y perdón”? La diferencia es enorme.

Arrepentimiento para perdón es lo que predicaba Juan el Bautista. Es el perdón condicionado a que te apartes del pecado. Es un verbo por un verbo.

Pero eso no es lo que Jesús dijo después de la cruz.

En Lucas 24 Jesús dijo, “De ahora en adelante, el perdón es un sustantivo. El perdón no es algo que Dios hace, es algo que ha hecho”.

Esto es claro en la King James: “Predicad en su nombre el arrepentimiento y la remisión de los pecados en todas las naciones”.

El perdón que ha tenido lugar se llama remisión. ¿Cuándo fueron remitidos todos nuestros pecados? En la cruz (véase Mateo 26:28 y Hebreos 9:22).

Y esto es lo que Jesús dijo que debíamos predicar: sustantivos, no verbos; dones, no obras.

EL PERDÓN NO ES ALGO QUE SE GANA SINO QUE SE RECIBE

Jesús dijo que el perdón de los pecados sería proclamado en su nombre y eso es exactamente lo que hicieron Pedro, Pablo y los demás apóstoles (ver Hechos 5:31, 13:38). Proclamaron la buena nueva del perdón -el perdón como sustantivo, el perdón como un hecho- e invitaron a la gente a creer en él. Animaron a la gente a recibir el regalo pagado por Jesús.

Pero Juan no lo hizo.

Dijo: Si confiesas, Dios perdonará. Juan usó el verbo antiguo en vez del sustantivo del nuevo pacto.

¿Por que? ¿No estaba Juan en la sala cuando Jesús hizo su anuncio en Lucas 24? ¿No recibió el memo de que un nuevo y mejor pacto estaba en la ciudad y que el perdón de Dios ha sido prodigado sobre nosotros de acuerdo a las riquezas de su gracia?

No, Juan utiliza el verbo antiguo por la misma razón que Pablo en Romanos 4:7-8: ambos citaban las Escrituras del Antiguo Testamento. De hecho, ambos estaban citando la misma escritura del Antiguo Testamento – Salmo 32:1 “Felices aquellos cuyos pecados son perdonados, cuyas injusticias son perdonadas” (GNB).

Juan no predicaba el perdón condicional y nosotros tampoco deberíamos hacerlo. Debemos decir a la gente lo mismo que Jesús dijo a sus discípulos, y esto Juan lo hace:

Os escribo a vosotros, hijitos, porque vuestros pecados os han sido perdonados por amor de su nombre. (1 Juan 2:12)

El perdón no es algo por lo que haya que trabajar, sino un don que hay que recibir

Traducción realizada con la versión gratuita del traductor www.DeepL.com/Translator

Is Forgiveness Something God Does or Gives?

How the cross redefined forgiveness

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Paul Ellis // 46 Comments

When you sin against someone, your relationship with that person comes under strain. There’s this Thing that comes between the two of you. To be reconciled you need to deal with the Thing.

Jesus said if you are bringing your gift to the altar and you remember your brother has some Thing against you, go and deal with that Thing (Matt 5:23).

He also said if your brother sins against you seven times in a day and seven times says, “I repent,” forgive him. “Send that Thing away” (see Luke 17:4).

You knew that, right?

But here’s the thing. God is not like you or me. He doesn’t wait for you to act before he does his thing with your Thing.

That Thing that was between you and him – your sin – he’s dealt with it. He has already forgiven you. To forgive literally means to send away, and on the cross the your sins and my sins were sent away.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psa 103:12)

The Thing is not the thing

So what in the wide world of sports was John thinking when he wrote: “If you confess your sins, God will forgive you” (1 John 1:9)?

Technically, this is not true. God won’t forgive you because he has forgiven you. God doesn’t judge the same sin twice and at the cross he judged all sin. Jesus will only die once and he did that already.

No further sacrifice for sins remains.

You may think that God is angry with you on account of your sin – your Thing – but the gospel says God is no longer counting your sins against you. As far as God is concerned the Thing is not the thing anymore.

So why does John say that God will forgive our sins as though it was something he hadn’t already done?

In a recent article on 1 John 1:9, we saw that John was quoting an Old Testament scripture to illuminate a New Testament truth. In that post we looked at the word “confess” but today I want to look at the word “forgive” because John’s choice of words is rather strange.

John describes forgiveness as a verb (aphiemi in Greek) when other New Testament writers usually describe forgiveness as a noun (aphesis). This puzzle prompted me to do some counting and here’s what I found: prior to the cross, God’s forgiveness is almost always described as a verb. After the cross it is almost always a noun.

Do you see?

Prior to the cross God related to the Israelites on the basis of the law-keeping covenant. “If you do A, I will do B. If you turn from sin, I will forgive your sins and heal your land, etc.”

This is called conditional forgiveness and it’s what Jesus preached prior to the cross: “If you forgive others, God will forgive you.” It’s an eye for an eye and a verb for a verb.

New covenant nouns

But after the cross, everything changed. The law was fulfilled, grace was revealed and verbs became nouns.

Forgiveness was no longer conditional on you doing A, B, and C. Forgiveness became a free gift paid for by the blood of the Lamb. The Risen Lord was the first to announce this:

He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness (aphesis – a noun) of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”  (Luke 24:46-47)

Take a moment to check that passage in your own Bible. What does it say? Does it read “repentance for forgiveness” or “repentance and forgiveness”? The difference is huge.

Repentance for forgiveness is what John the Baptist preached. It’s forgiveness conditional on you turning from sin. It’s a verb for a verb.

But that is not what Jesus said after the cross.

In Luke 24 Jesus said, “From now on, forgiveness is a noun. Forgiveness is not something God does, it’s something he’s done.”

This is clear in the King James: “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.”

Forgiveness that has taken place is called remission. When were all our sins remitted? On the cross (see Matt 26:28 and Heb 9:22).

And this is what Jesus said we should preach – nouns, not verbs; gifts, not works.

Forgiveness is not something to earn but receive

Jesus said the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name and that’s exactly what Peter, Paul, and the other apostles did (see Acts 5:31, 13:38). They proclaimed the good news of forgiveness – forgiveness as a noun, forgiveness as a done-deal – and invited people to believe in it. They encouraged people to receive the gift paid for by Jesus.

But John didn’t.

He said, If you confess, God will forgive. John went with the old verb instead of the new covenant noun.

Why? Was John not in the room when Jesus made his Luke 24 announcement? Did he not get the memo that a new and better covenant was in town and that God’s forgiveness has been lavished upon us according to the riches of his grace?

No, John uses the old verb for the same reason Paul does in Romans 4:7-8 – they were both quoting Old Testament scripture. Indeed, they were both quoting the same Old Testament scripture – Psalm 32:1 “Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned” (GNB).

John did not preach conditional forgiveness and neither should we. We should tell people the same thing Jesus told his disciples, and this John does:

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

Forgiveness is not something to work for, but a gift to receive.

—–

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46 Comments on Is Forgiveness Something God Does or Gives?

1.  savedbygrace // June 20, 2012 at 7:00 pm // ReplyI’ve learn from neuroscience that our brain will associate actions, looks – the physical attributes to identify a person.
   it totally makes sense when the scripture says renew your mind.
   therefore we are called Righteous not because of righteous actions, but by name.another good one! keep em coming!– amen
2.  Richard Williamson // June 21, 2012 at 12:36 am // Reply“As far as the East is from the West”…is a long, long way”…great post…
3.  Peter Wilson // June 21, 2012 at 3:45 am // ReplyHi Paul, Great discovery! you know how to do your thing!
   I’m glad you brought out about the O.C. Scriptures because in the same verse of Rom 4:7. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 
   Under the N.C. Our sins are not ‘covered’, they are as you say, ‘sent away’. There are a number of choruses we sing today that use the word ‘covered’ rather than ‘cleansed’ or ‘sent away’.
   I also find it amazing that even when it is pointed out that 1Jn 1:9 is the only Scripture that speaks about confessing sin, and that John was addressing Gnostics in the Church – and you give them the overwhelming evidence of what Jesus did for us at the cross – they still cling onto 1Jn 1:9 with ferocity and great anger!
   Thanks.
4.  William Seabrooke // June 21, 2012 at 4:38 am // ReplyGreat stuff Paul. Keep it coming!
5.  Craig Lucinsky // June 21, 2012 at 11:18 am // ReplyThere is also another most import fact that we have been forgiven is that Jesus is resurrected.
   If we haven’t been forgiven then Jesus would still be in the grave because he became our sinful nature and paid the penalty of death for it.
   One man brought death because of his disobedience,One brings Life because of his Obedience.Also he sat down and we also have sat down with him.This is to confirm that there is no more a require for a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.When the High preist each year did his duty to offer the sacrifice they would confess there sin’s and the animal would be punishment for with death for the people’s disobedience this would happen year after year.Jesus Death and Resurrection has change all that.
6.  Dennis DeMagistris // June 22, 2012 at 2:13 pm // ReplyHi Paul, thanks again for another great insight on our forgiveness because of The Cross of our Wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! My 89 year old dad & I are learning so many good bible truths from all of your posts about Gods Salvation. You are sure helping us know our freedom in Christ so that we can really enjoy our Heavenly Father in a Real & True way. I believe God really enjoys when we have our minds renewed in His Truth of Total Forgiveness. What Great Joy He give us as a Free Gift!! Love Learning of our Gods Love & Grace!!
7.  jennie // June 23, 2012 at 2:54 am // Replypastor paul, can i be the nerdy disciple for a minute? lol
   in luke 24:46-47: “repentance AND forgiveness of sins”…
   i am wondering why the greek word that IS used (eis) is translated “and” instead of “in” or “into” ? (“kai” is not used like it is in acts 5:31)
   because it still makes the strong case (maybe even stronger?) that repentance/change of mind (which, i might point out, is also a noun – not a verb) comes from being in forgiveness/pardon.
   its a “thing” inside of a “thing” = we’re in forgiveness first, and repentance is found being IN that forgiveness… a gift in a gift
   because this actually agrees w/ paul’s statement: “the goodness/kindness of God leads you to repentance” (rom 2:4)
8.  Randal // July 6, 2012 at 5:12 am // ReplyPaul,
   Ive always been taught that 1John 1:9 is a statement made to unbelievers but more contextually in this case it was directed to a group of gnostic followers who were perverting the true Gospel.Can you please comment. Thanks again for the wonderful site. In Christ. -Randal-
   •  Paul Ellis // July 6, 2012 at 7:38 am // ReplyRandal, check out my post: Is 1 John 1 for Believers or Unbelievers?
9.  samson sundeep // February 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm // Replypaul absolutely wholesome stuff .thank u.
10.  Brian Midmore // September 17, 2013 at 8:05 am // ReplyOn a point of fact I have counted how many times after the cross that forgiveness and forgive are used in connexion with God. I counted 5 forgivenesses Acts 5.31; 13.38; 26.18, Eph 1.7, and Col 1.14 and in its various forms i.e forgive forgiven and forgave 8 forgives. Forgive (1) 1 John 1.19, forgiven (6) Acts 8.22, Rom 4.7, Eph 4.32, Col 2.13, Jas 5.15, 1, Jn 2.12 forgave (1) Col.13. This does not seem to tally with what is written above.
    •  Paul Ellis // September 17, 2013 at 8:54 am // ReplyI’m not sure that I would accept or reject grace by tallying scriptures. Probably better to filter everything you read through Jesus and his finished work. Regarding the many scriptures on forgiveness, this picture should help.
11.  Lance D // January 25, 2014 at 9:27 am // ReplyLove you, Paul.
    This idea, however, that God has already forgiven everyone is incorrect. Most obvious is 1 John 1:9, which you explained away.
    Less obvious is that everything we receive, we receive because we are ‘in Him’; if we are forgiven, then we are ‘in Him’. The alternative is that we were in Him for forgiveness, but not for life, for which there is no biblical support.
    Furthermore, we are not so much just forgiven, as we die in Him. Our sin was condemned and we died (in Him); we were not left in the flesh and had the ‘thing’ removed. Our sin was not simply removed the way we remove a splinter; we died and were resurrected. It is very different.
    • Paul Ellis // January 27, 2014 at 4:33 pm // ReplyLance, there is much riding on the meaning of the word forgive. When I say God has forgiven us, I am being literal. To forgive literally means to carry away sin and on the cross Jesus did that already. He will never do it again. It’s true that many hold on to their sins, hence 1 John 1:9, but God does not. Love keeps no record of wrongs.I totally agree that the reality of forgiveness is only experienced by those in Christ. You may be interested in my post Why do people need to receive forgiveness if the whole world is already forgiven? I am sure you have found my many posts on 1 John 1:9. (If not, you can find them using the search box.)
      •  Lance D // January 28, 2014 at 6:44 am //Paul, your site advances the idea that there are 3 different messages for 3 different types of people:
        1. IF they deny that they ever sinned and are closed to grace, then I tell them to confess their sin and be forgiven
        2. IF they are legalistic and self-righteous and are closed to grace, then I tell them to repent and pray and (maybe) they will be forgiven.
        3. IF they are open to grace, then I tell them that they are already forgivenwhat you’ve effectively done is taken the minority example (3) and called that ‘the reality’, and ignored the majority (1 and 2) and called those ‘special cases’. [this is not to say that i agree with your interpretation of (3).] does that really make sense to you?still, you have become so convinced of it, that i don’t think you can actually consider the alternative.in any event, most of the people on this earth, i would classify as either (1) or (2). by your own classification system, that means that your message should very seldomly look like (3).regards
      •  Paul Ellis // January 28, 2014 at 8:17 am //I guess my writing reflects the world I inhabit just as Christ’s words reflected the world he inhabited.In my world, very few people are going around acting like they are Mr. or Mrs. Perfect. My world consists of broken, messed-up people who are trying to keep their heads above water, struggling to be good parents or students, etc. What I love about these people is they are honest. They know they make mistakes. They don’t need the law to tell them they are not perfect – their consciences have already told them that. Honest folk like this are RIPE for grace. When I tell them about the unconditional love of their heavenly Father their faces light up. The good news brings them great joy.
      •  Lance D // January 28, 2014 at 8:37 am //that’s interesting, because the implied (and sometimes direct) theological message i hear in the USA is that God (1) accepts everyone who is 50.00001% good, (2) ‘looks past’ the 49.99999% bad (forgiveness is not really necessary), and (3) deciding what is ‘good’ is up to you anyway (relativism is alive and well).that is really not what you hear over there? none of this ‘50% good is good enough’ or ‘i, personally, get to decide what is good and what is evil/ get to judge myself’ stuff?these people definitely have the idea that ‘i do not need to be forgiven’…
12.  Henry A // August 10, 2014 at 12:50 am // ReplyHiya people! In In regards to Mathew 5:23 (If you remember your brother has something against you,leave your gift and first be reconciled to your brother…). I really need help with this, to do with the whole finished work message. Lately, basically every time I come into the presence of God, I just feel so guilty and don’t even feel worthy to declare Gods promises over myself. I keep thinking that somewhere I’ve not reconciled with someone (I mean sure like maybe 5 years ago or something). And its just robbed me of my boldness before God. Please help. Can I come and enjoy Gods presence by faith or do I somehow somewhere need to sort out some relationships with people first?
    •  Henry A // August 10, 2014 at 12:56 am // ReplySorry for the length of this… But my question really is, do I need to sort anything out in my life before I come and enjoy Gods presence? Or even before I come and give an offering (Matthew 5:23)…?
      Thanks for this site Paul.
      •  Paul Ellis // August 10, 2014 at 8:58 am //Nooo! There is nothing you can do to improve upon Christ’s perfectly perfect and completely complete work.
    • Paul Ellis // August 10, 2014 at 8:58 am // ReplyThe Bible exhorts us to come boldly to the throne of grace in our hour of need (Heb 4:16). You are not coming at all because of a feeling of guilt and unworth. Do you see? You are rejecting God’s good and precious promises because of a bad feeling! This is defeat. This is walking by sight. Faith isn’t a good feeling. Faith is a decision to trust God despite your bad feelings. Faith says, “Even though I don’t feel worthy, I will come boldly to my Father’s throne of grace because Jesus is worthy and he has made a way. Even though I feel like a miserable sinner with all sorts of issues, I will trust that God loves me because Jesus died and rose again.” You need to tell yourself, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” (2 Cor 5:21) and do it again and again until the seed of that word takes root in your heart and grows. It is the gospel. Believe it!
      •  Henry A // August 10, 2014 at 9:12 am //OK thank you so much!! I’ll come boldly today! I used to you know, but I guess I kinda doubted in some way… I’m Righteous!!! If I think about it, the only times since being a Christian that I’ve ever actually ‘felt’ good and healthy were the times that I believed in faith that yes I am righteous!!
      •  candy // May 13, 2015 at 2:43 pm //If we did something wrong to someone thirty years ago do we need to find them and ask for forgiveness before we can worship in church or make an offering? Does this prevent us from going to heaven?
      •  Paul Ellis // May 14, 2015 at 2:07 pm //No.
      •  Andrew Sulyma // April 20, 2022 at 1:24 am //Thank you I have never seen it put so beautifully and so simply like this ever! WOW
13.  treasurewood // December 14, 2014 at 4:45 am // ReplyJust stumbled upon your blog by googling “do we need to confess our sins?”… love your stuff! Have been a Christian for over 30 years and just come across this way of thinking recently. Would love to know what you think about why Jesus told us to pray every day in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our sins”. Why would we have to keep asking if it has already been done? Is it because Jesus taught this prayer to the Jews before he actually died and rose again? And now it would be different? And also, I guess we don’t need to keep singing songs like “Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit in me” over and over when it’s already been done and we don’t need to keep on asking and asking for God to renew our spirit again and again every time we sin? It makes sense that David would have, because he was born before Christ and had to offer sacrifices over and over every time he sinned… Thanks!! 
    •  Paul Ellis // December 14, 2014 at 12:08 pm // ReplyPlease see this post for my response to the Lord’s prayer. You may also be interested in this post on Psalm 51.
14.  candy // May 15, 2015 at 12:23 am // ReplyThank you so much Paul!
15.  Laurence Edgar // June 2, 2016 at 6:32 pm // ReplyHi Paul. I’m new to your books and your posts, I have read some of but not a lot of your posts. Recently I read an article comparing repentance and confession. In the book of Revelation John confronts the churches time and again with the need to repent. Repent or else, says John can you explain this in light of confessing our sins and repenting of our sins.
    •  Paul Ellis // June 2, 2016 at 6:38 pm // ReplyHi Laurence, welcome to E2R. I have written extensively on the Revelation churches. You can find all the articles in the Archives > Scripture Index. Thanks.
16.  Nana // June 4, 2016 at 12:07 am // ReplyThank you Paul for underlining the part “repentance and forgiveness”. In my Dutch Bible it says “repentance for forgiveness”. So I looked it up in the original Greek text where it says “and”. Thank you for this eye opener!
17.  Adrian // October 18, 2017 at 3:13 am // ReplyHi Paul, I also saw a sermon that said that the word confess comes from the the greek word homologeo.
18.  Danrich // November 5, 2017 at 5:17 am // ReplyLearned alot here.• The Gift of Repentance and forgiveness
    – (Acts 5:31) : “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
19.  Cheryl // October 10, 2019 at 4:12 am // ReplyLove this! I hope you don’t mind that I shared your words. Be blessed!
20.  Ventriss // October 10, 2019 at 8:57 am // ReplyThese words are such a blessing. Every time Rea Beloved teaches about our SOLID forgiveness in Christ, peace rishes over us like a river.
    Thank you so much.
21.  Truth Seeker // June 13, 2020 at 2:14 am // ReplyFirst John was not written to different audiences, but to believers as a whole. John recognizes believers at different levels of growth (he identifies spiritual children, young men, and fathers), but when he refers to those outside the faith (including false teachers and those holding false beliefs) he clearly refers to them in the third person (they). John refers to his “little children” (believers) over and over and over again, but he never refers to an outside group as being a recipient of his letter. It is terribly ill-advised to presumptuously insert a supposed audience (Gnostics or others) into John’s epistle that he never identified as recipients.Having been deceived, some obsessively and compulsively confessed “sin” (even though it may have only been a temptation). They got on a vicious and tormenting cycle of confessing and re-confessing “sins” and eventually decided that their “confessing sins” was not bringing them victory. As a result, they decided confession of sins must be part of the problem, and so, based on their negative experience, they decided it must not apply to them. In short, they reject the truth of confession because they had experienced a deceptive counterfeit.
    When we confess a sin, we are not groveling before God or wallowing in our sin. We are not trying to “earn” forgiveness, and we are not questioning whether He still loves us or will give us a second chance. No! We come in faith to the One Who promised us cleansing
    •  Paul Ellis // June 13, 2020 at 10:25 am // Reply1 John has messages for both believers and unbelievers. When he’s addressing his dear children, he is referring to the former. But when he is writing to people who have no fellowship with us, he is talking about people disconnected from the living vine. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). More here.
22.  Ambangira Edson // August 16, 2020 at 8:50 pm // ReplyThanks. I love “Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. (Ps 32:1, GNB)Forgiveness is not something God does, it’s something he’s done.
23.  Andrew. S // September 16, 2021 at 1:04 am // ReplyThis is an honest cry for help from a helpless soul in terror I had once know of the love grace forgiveness of the living God in Jesus Christ but I fell away and lived in sin now I have been convinced that there is no hope and no way back to God. I have cried out to Him but still no answer so I despair of God’s forgiveness and I despair of God’s mercy will ever be shown to me. I have suffered constant depression however Suicide is not an option. If what you are saying about forgiveness is true HOW is my question I truly came to know Jesus and know I have passed from death to life, But I turned back this is my stumbling stone all I feel is shame is there any hope for me?
    •  Paul Ellis // September 16, 2021 at 7:58 am // ReplyHi Andrew, you are suffering because you are believing the lie that your sin is greater than your Father’s love. It isn’t. Renew your mind by choosing to believe what God says about you in his word. You are his dearly-loved son and nothing will ever change that. He loves you more than you can know. Read Romans 8:31-39 to yourself out loud every day until you are free. I am praying for you.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Phil 4

Phl 4:5

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Let all men see the Christ in you. He is near because He lives in you.

God dwells in you

1Jo 4:17

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

As He is so are we in the world.

We have already been judged righteous. I know that the Lord will know who has been judged righteous or wrong and who are his and who are not on the final day. But here I think John was reffering the today. We have to prove our love to a world of condemners and haters.

Jhn 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We already have eternal life by grace. No need to doubt and keep working to earn it. Just prove we have it to the world.

If we believe in Jesus and God’s words we are judged as having eternal life!

In any condition we can be content autarkia “sufficient for oneself, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances”

I have strength for all things. No matter come what may

Phl 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

We have strength in Him Christ who gives us the power.

We can live freely as Christ did. Not entangled in life.

This is the secret or mystery…..We are rich.

Col 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Our riches are not any thing of the world that will fade, rust, hyperinflate or die

It is Christ He is the power and the satisfaction

Col 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Phl 4:19

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

How rich are we? As rich as the universe. We have God in Christ in us. We have all we need and God will supply as we need things. He fills our cup but only as we need it. When we have an unlimited source we can look to the riches of His Glory instead of our bank account. Our bank account can be emptied at any time but not Gods supply. We can withdraw what we need (and God knows what we need better than we do) by prayer

Phl 4:6-7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Self sufficiency is the ability to be satisfied in every condition

Autarkia

2Co 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

We can have all sufficiency because God is able and he desire to lavish his Grace on us.

SO we can have all sufficiency. Always having enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances.

SO in all circumstances we can do Gods good work!

1Ti 6:6

But godliness with contentment (autarkeia) is great gain.

We are richer than any multi trillionaire, If we have a relation with God through Jesus Christ

And we certainly do. We can practice this relation and reap the benefit of satisfaction. Any time we can speak directly to our God and he will give us all we need and that is primarily peace. Peace is what everyone is looking for in money. But God has it.

1Ti 6:9

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Money is nothing it is how it is used. It cannot bring peace of mind.

If we replace our relation with money it will not go well in our lives. We must keep close to God in all conditions. The love of money cannot replace the love of God.

It is a trap and source of all evil in the world. Not money but the love stolen from God.

1Ti 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Godliness is a real relation with God. When we make God our priority and spend more time with Him than plans for making “A living” we shall see the satisfaction every day.

Some teach it backwards. There are many who teach financial prosperity is the answer we are needing. It is called the “prosperity gospel” and it is neither real prosperity or good news. It would leave all our poorer brethren out the door.

1Ti 6:5

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain G4200 is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

They teach that the thing we need and are looking for is financial gain, bigger bank accounts. That is the lie. It follows Godliness and a relation with out Father that we have all we need. It is not that we have all that “we think” we need first and then we can have a better relation with our God. It does not work that way.

Mat 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we make our time with God our priority He will make sure we will have what we need when we need it everytime. IF we make money our God will will be eaten by worry and sorrow

Mat 6:34

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

We do not need to live like that, but it is our choice of where we place our priority and time.

Do we spend it on trying to get to know how to make more money? Or do we spend time trying to get to know our Father, through speaking to Him through Christ and listening to His word according to the holy scripture?

Pro 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The reverence and time we spend with God is not fear but love for Him. We should fear being away from God and deceived by the devil.

The word for fear here in the Greek Septuagint is the same word for “Godliness” as in Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Pro 13:11 ESV

Wealth gained hastily[fn] will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

Prov 13:11 LXX

Wealth hastily gained lawlessly will disappear, but whoever gathers with godly respect is multiplied. And he will have pity on the poor and give.

Confession, Conviction, Confusion!

Confession, Conviction, Confusion!

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Paul Ellis // 58 Comments

Did Jesus sneak out of heaven against His Father’s wishes to come and die for our sins? Did He distract the Holy Spirit then slip away on His own initiative to shed His blood for our forgiveness? Of course not! Yet judging by some of the comments I get on this site, it’s clear that some think that God the Son and God the Father are playing a good cop-bad cop routine with humanity. God the Father is angry with us on account of our sin, but Jesus stands between us protecting us from His Father’s wrath.

What’s wrong with this picture? Everything! It suggests that God the Son and God the Father have different natures, that One loves us unconditionally, but the other can’t see past our sin. Even if you don’t know your Bible you can probably see how ridiculous this is.

Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is the “exact representation” of God’s nature. He is the visible image of invisible God (Col 1:15). Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). If you want to know what God the Father is like, look at Jesus. They are different people, but they share the same character, the same heart, and the same spiritual DNA. The gospel tells us that Jesus was sent by God the Father and empowered by God the Holy Spirit to save the world. Contrary to what you may have heard, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are very much on the same page when it comes to your forgiven-ness.

A Christian is someone who has received the gift of God’s forgiveness. By trusting in God’s grace, they experience today that which God provided 2000 years ago, namely salvation through the finished work of the cross. In Part 1 and Part 2 of this study we looked at six reasons why Christians never need to confess their sins to be forgiven. Perhaps you confess your sins because you are uncertain about your forgiveness. You know that Jesus died for your sins, but you may think that God is keeping records and that the Holy Spirit is convicting you and leading you to do works of confession. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here are two more reasons why those who have been forgiven don’t need to confess-to-be-forgiven:

7. God chooses to forget your sin

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Heb 8:12)

Confession usually involves telling God about our sins (as if He didn’t know!). But why would we want to remind Him of things that He has chosen to forget? Somehow we have bought into this idea that God is in heaven recording all of our sins onto DVDs and on Judgment Day He’s going to embarrass us by playing movies of our mistakes. But this is not what the Bible says! God does not impute our trespasses to us (2 Cor 5:19). He is in the reconciliation business, not the shaming business. When you confess-to-be-forgiven you are imputing sins to yourself that God Himself is not counting. In other words, you are acting unlike your heavenly Father.

Under the law covenant it was important to keep track of and account for every sin, but the new covenant is characterized by loving forgetfulness (Jer 31:34). Did God suddenly have a change of heart after the cross? Did His memory suddenly go faulty? No, God never changes. He is the same today, yesterday and forever. The Bible refers to the law covenant as a fading and therefore temporary arrangement (2 Co 3:11). Although God chose to relate to people for a time through this fault-finding covenant in order that we might learn the seriousness of sin and see our need for Jesus, His own nature is otherwise. He has always loved us (Jer 31:3) and love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Co 13:5).

On the cross God the Father made Jesus be sin for us that we might become His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). Jesus was not acting alone but in perfect submission to His Father’s will (Lk 22:42). Forgiving you was the Father’s idea; making Jesus be sin that you might become righteous was His work. Because God the Father relates to you through His sinless Son, He chooses to remember your sins and lawless deeds no more.

Why did God do all this? Because He is love and He loves us. For God the Father so loved the sinful world that He sent His only Son. When you see the Father’s heart of love behind the Son’s redemptive work, you will no longer fear sin. You won’t be worried about those sin-DVDs because God isn’t making any. When you begin to grasp the Father’s love, you will even look forward to Judgment Day with boldness (1 Jn 4:17). Where does this confidence come from? It comes from knowing that we have “grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son” (2 Jn 1:3).

8. The Holy Spirit is not convicting you

“The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this… ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’” (Heb 10:15,17)

Some believers feel impressed to confess their sins because they think the Holy Spirit is convicting them. Only He doesn’t. How could the Holy Spirit convict us of something He chooses not to remember? Look at what He says: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” You can take those words to the bank! They are truth and life. God the Son died to do away with sin. Because of what Jesus has done, neither God the Father (Heb 8:12) nor God the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:17) remembers your sins any more. If the Holy Spirit were convicting you, then the Godhead would be a house divided.

You may say, “I know I’ve sinned because my conscience has been pricked. Isn’t that the Holy Spirit’s conviction?” Nope. Have you ever wondered how you know when you have sinned? Most people have an innate knowledge of good and evil because of what happened in the Garden of Eden. But where that moral compass is rusty, the law kicks in with fault-finding force. “I would not have known sin except through the law” (Rms 7:7). If you are feeling condemned, don’t blame the Holy Spirit! It’s the law that condemns you. Some try and wriggle out of this by distinguishing conviction from condemnation. They say conviction is good and comes from God, but condemnation is bad and comes from the devil. But if we’re talking sin then there’s no scripture that supports this distinction. The word convict, as found in the NIV translation of John 16:8, literally means to refute, find fault and call to account. This is what the law was designed to do (2 Co 3:9), in order that you might be led to Jesus and receive His gift of no condemnation (Rm 8:1).

religious_convictionAs an expression of His love and mercy, the Holy Spirit convicts the world of the sin of unbelief. But the only thing He “convicts” or rather, convinces, Christians of is their righteousness (Jn 16:8-10). When you sin, your conscience may convict you, the law may convict you, and the Spanish Inquisition may convict you. But while all of this convicting is going on, the Holy Spirit will be there to remind you of your right standing in Christ. Your righteous acts don’t make you righteous; neither do your unrighteous acts make you unrighteous. Only Christ makes you righteous. If you listen to your sin, you will think you are damaged goods only capable of screwing up. But if you listen to the Holy Spirit, He will tell you that you are as righteous as Jesus and capable of living right. This is not a challenge to live right through will-power – the Holy Spirit will never promote a flesh trip. This is a call to continue living in Christ the same way you started – by faith (Col 2:6). Listen to your sins and you’ll end up a victim, but be led by the Spirit and you will be more than a conqueror!

God is not a fault-finder

Jesus did not sneak out of heaven on a secret mercy mission and God did not have a change of heart after the cross. Your heavenly Father is not a fault-finder. Neither is the Holy Spirit.

When you confess-to-be-forgiven, you are essentially trying to make yourself good enough for God. You’re saying, “I messed up, but I can fix it.” Well, you are half right! But you are fooling yourself if you think you can fix what sin broke. Jesus died to set our minds free from acts that lead to death (Heb 9:14) and confessing-to-be-forgiven is a dead act. It may make you feel momentarily good about yourself, but as we will see in the final part of this study, this sort of confession ultimately leads to death and defeat. True confession is agreeing with God and God says all your sins were forgiven at the cross for all time by the blood of Jesus. Confess that!