(Dukester;32090)
This is a very good question,See John 1:9-10 If we claim we have no sin,we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness"God offers forgiveness when we own up to our sins,He allowed his own son to die on the cross to save us!!!But if you look at the verse,it says we must confess our sins,So does that mean confess them all,Some would argue God already knows our sins,so how come we just can't say can you forgive me of everything I have done,I personally think you can,But only when you do ask for forgiveness truly mean it, you keep doing it,it is pointless to keep asking for forgiveness,you should really be asking God to help you overcome the sins you have commitedReally I do not have all of the answers,but this is just some of my views,I will keep looking through my bible for answers
Hope this helped a little-Duke-
Actually it is 1 John, not the gospel of John. Not to be picky. It is probably a typo. Since you brought up 1 John I will speak about it, since it is very much on my heart. It speaks to us in this age. Undoubtedly, there are many people whom you (used generally) may know who would benefit from reading this book. It is about worldliness and superficiality.The problem is that many people delude themselves with respect to sin and also with respect to salvation. John is talking about authenticity here. He is using contrast to make his point. He talks about light vs. darkness and true Christians vs. counterfeits. He writes about being worldly and Antichrists who are in the church now. He talks about sin also.The main points that he wants to make is to shun the world and its ways and to walk always in the light. He says that genuine Christians are obedient to God and show love toward others.What separates authentic Christians from the counterfeits, who call themselves Christian but aren't, is the same for John as for James in James 2. Real Christians live out their faith by putting their actions behind their words. Actions do not save us, but are outward signs of the inward work of the Holy Spirit. Without these outward signs, we have to wonder about the degree of commitment we have. In other words, simple faith is not enough. Saving faith is sincere. It results in action and change.So if you wonder whether you are truly saved, look at your actions. Do they show obedience to God and sacrificial love toward others? If not then you may be fooling yourself.You can fool yourself, but never God. We have to be careful about judging others based on outward signs. John tell us to pray for others who sin. He tell us not to feel guilty about our salvation because God looks past the obvious and knows our heart.Salvation is not a destination, but a process. We are all somewhere along a road that takes a lifetime. What separates us from God, is that he knows the beginning and the end. A person may not be living as they are called now, but may change. That is why we should never lose hope or judge others based on a snapshot of a moment in time of our lives or theirs.Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. It was a bumper sticker I once saw. We would be good to remember it. Perfection comes at the end, not now. This is not to excuse sin, but to place it into perspective. We had best remember this in our dealings with others. Nobody is perfect and if you think that you are without sin then as John says, you are fooling yourself, and on the road to ruin.Jesus said in Matthew 7: 1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.This is a warning about self-righteous behavior that can result in people who call themselves Christian. They have a severe problem not only with respect to being judgmental, but also their unloving attitude. This is telling in light of what John says. Later he says, 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'Not everyone who calls him "Lord" will be saved. They knew him, but he did not know them. Salvation is founded on a relationship. It goes both ways. James 1: 22
Do not merely listen to the word, and so
deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James says that it has to penetrate your heart and move you to act. Mere listening is not enough.In chapter 2 James writes: 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.Believing in God is not enough. It is knowing God and him knowing you in return. It is based on sincerity, truth and reciprocity. Jesus will take those given into his care and not lose a single one. You job is to receive what he offers and to put it into action in your heart. This will transform you and the world.Jesus said:John 10: 27 "
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[d];
no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."Notice all of the action here. Faith is not passive. Christians know Jesus' voice. Earlier he says that he knows them and they know him. We hear. We follow. Actions.John goes through this in greater depth in 1 John. God knows your sins. There is no guilt in bringing them before him. The danger is not in confession, but denial. Sometimes naming the sin helps to give it up. It is something to be given up. Lay your burdens at his feet. It is an act of worship and surrender. If you cannot remember your specific sins, then you need be humble and just allow God to work in you. The Holy Spirit convicts us of wrong doing. More of him in our lives is a good thing. Ask him to help you with this.Blessings,Dunamite