Should a Christians confess their sin? Yes, even though we have been saved, a proper understanding of the Word will lead to daily confession of sin. There are five views concerning the confession of sin by believers among Christian teachers: 1) Confession of sins is completely unnecessary because we are under grace; 2) Confession of sins is a psychological exercise to help one feel better. 3) Confession of sins is necessary because salvation dealt with past sins, Christians can lose the position of forgiveness by not confessing which ultimately leads them to Hell. 4) Confession of sins earns the confessor grace as sins are confessed to a priest followed by some meritorious work there by gaining the blessing of God. 5) Confession of sins is part of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit within us the restores fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hold to the fifth view concerning the confession of sins by a believer. My understanding of 1 John 1:4-10 leads me to view sin as a serious issue for all believers. As long as we walk the earth, we will deal with the presence and power of our sinful natures. Therefore, we all sin, and the sin has great ramifications upon our daily walk with the Lord through indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit! God is light and in Him is no darkness. God does not sin nor tolerate sin. The Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and the Lord Jesus. He does not lead us to sin nor can He condone our sin! When we sin willfully, it breaks fellowship, not relationship, with the Lord! While we are under grace, it is not an excuse to sin or to have a flippant attitude about our sins. I do not believe a Christian can fall from grace and lose salvation for the very reason we cannot walk in darkness habitually (Romans 8). We can backslide, we can sin, but we cannot do it successfully because the Holy Spirit convicts, chastises, and corrects. The Holy Spirit will always points out our sin in attitude and action. He prods us in our circumstances!This is the reason why the most miserable people in the world are out of fellowship Christians, no lost people! If I confess my sin to the Lord Jesus Christ, not some priest or minister, and repent the Holy Spirit will not be grieved within me and I can experience His gracious work. If I grieve the Holy Spirit then His work within me is quenched. Spiritual drifting will begin - away from prayer, away from the Word, away from the worship with believers, away from witnessing, away from godly attitudes and actions! I open the door for Satan's deceptions and distractions. I begin to excuse sin and go deeper into sin. It effects not only me but all my relationships as well! But a Christian cannot continue on indefinitely in rebellion because of the convicting work of the securing presence of the Holy Spirit. If one can sin successfully, they are not saved!He will lead you back to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and confess of sin. Not salvation again, but restoration because of the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us! You should read John 13:3-10. Here is where there is much division among teachers of the Word about this passage as well. Jesus in washing the feet of the disciples made appoint to remind them if they had bathed, only a washing of the feet was necessary. It was the custom of Middle East for guests to have their feet washed by the host when entering into the home. Why? The roads were dusty, muddy, and sometimes the sewer ran in it. Although the guest had bathed, the feet became dirty during the travel. The teaching of Jesus is that a believer has been completely bathed at salvation! Praise the Lord! Yet, we need cleansing as we walk in this world. This where I believe John's teaching In 1 John 1:5-10 comes into view. We need daily cleansing in order to stay in fellowship. We must confess our sins and repent in order to experience blessed leading of the Holy Spirit. Are you clean?
I hold to the fifth view concerning the confession of sins by a believer. My understanding of 1 John 1:4-10 leads me to view sin as a serious issue for all believers. As long as we walk the earth, we will deal with the presence and power of our sinful natures. Therefore, we all sin, and the sin has great ramifications upon our daily walk with the Lord through indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit! God is light and in Him is no darkness. God does not sin nor tolerate sin. The Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and the Lord Jesus. He does not lead us to sin nor can He condone our sin! When we sin willfully, it breaks fellowship, not relationship, with the Lord! While we are under grace, it is not an excuse to sin or to have a flippant attitude about our sins. I do not believe a Christian can fall from grace and lose salvation for the very reason we cannot walk in darkness habitually (Romans 8). We can backslide, we can sin, but we cannot do it successfully because the Holy Spirit convicts, chastises, and corrects. The Holy Spirit will always points out our sin in attitude and action. He prods us in our circumstances!This is the reason why the most miserable people in the world are out of fellowship Christians, no lost people! If I confess my sin to the Lord Jesus Christ, not some priest or minister, and repent the Holy Spirit will not be grieved within me and I can experience His gracious work. If I grieve the Holy Spirit then His work within me is quenched. Spiritual drifting will begin - away from prayer, away from the Word, away from the worship with believers, away from witnessing, away from godly attitudes and actions! I open the door for Satan's deceptions and distractions. I begin to excuse sin and go deeper into sin. It effects not only me but all my relationships as well! But a Christian cannot continue on indefinitely in rebellion because of the convicting work of the securing presence of the Holy Spirit. If one can sin successfully, they are not saved!He will lead you back to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and confess of sin. Not salvation again, but restoration because of the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us! You should read John 13:3-10. Here is where there is much division among teachers of the Word about this passage as well. Jesus in washing the feet of the disciples made appoint to remind them if they had bathed, only a washing of the feet was necessary. It was the custom of Middle East for guests to have their feet washed by the host when entering into the home. Why? The roads were dusty, muddy, and sometimes the sewer ran in it. Although the guest had bathed, the feet became dirty during the travel. The teaching of Jesus is that a believer has been completely bathed at salvation! Praise the Lord! Yet, we need cleansing as we walk in this world. This where I believe John's teaching In 1 John 1:5-10 comes into view. We need daily cleansing in order to stay in fellowship. We must confess our sins and repent in order to experience blessed leading of the Holy Spirit. Are you clean?