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NASB | 2 Corinthians 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Corinthians 5:8 we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. |
Subject: God forgive no matter what |
Bible Note: ChristLifer2001 Consider what some of the commentaries say about 1 John 1:9 and how confession is for believers in the context of this verse. "Keep in mind, however, that 1 John 1:9 is written exclusively to all BELIEVERS. I have sometimes heard sincere Christian quote this verse to unconverted people, urging them to confess their sins. But this inspired epistle was addressed ONLY to saints, children in the family of God. The provision of confession and forgiveness is exclusively for them. Let us suppose for a moment that a letter has been sent to a specific church in a certain city. Would any in the town who did not belong to that church imagine that the instructions, admonitions, and exhortations were intended for them? Of course not! When the Christians who received this Spirit-inspired epistle heard the words read in their assembly, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," they knew immediately that John meant believers. This provision of confession and forgiveness was never intended for the unbeliever. If all he needed to do to be assured of forgiveness and cleansing were to confess his sins, quite obviously he would not have to be told of Christ's death on the cross. He wouldn't have to hear of his need for faith in the crucified and risen Redeemer. But it's not that way. MY friend, this is God's family primer. It's addressed to the "little born ones," those who are ALREADY saved." (Paul R. Van Gorder - an associate teacher of the RADIO BIBLE CLASS who shares the preaching ministry with Richard De Haan on Day of Discovery - from his book "In The Family - Studies in First John - pages 38-39) J. Veron McGee in his commentary on first John says: "confess your sins. That, my friend, is one of the greatest needs in the church. This is God's way FOR A CHRISTIAN to deal with sin in his own life." (page 33 of his commentary) "confession of sins is necessary for maintaining continual fellowship with God." "BELIEVERS are to confess their sins because God says they are sinners who need forgiveness." "They don't need to confess the sins of the past all over again" "BELIEVERS should continue to confess their sins, .... so that they can enjoy maxium fellowship and joy with him." "If Christ already forgave all of our sins when he died on the cross, why does John tell us to confess our sins, so that God will forgive us? At issue here is our fellowship - not relationship with God." "a disobedient child of God cannot expect to have fellowship with God" (comments on 1 John 1:9 from the Life Application Bible Commentary of the epistles of John - pages 25-26) David who was a believer saw confession as necessary Ps 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Daniel the great man of God saw the need to confess his sins Dan. 9:20 I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin Since you disagree with the previous comments from Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates I sent you in my last reply, I now send you the comments of other theologians on this topic as well. Plus I am including a couple of scripture verses about past saints who saw confession as necessary. Are we better than David or Daniel and do we not also have to confess sins daily as the work of the Holy Spirit convicts us? To say confession is not intended for the believer is to deny what most commentaries and Scripture as well declare. And I feel safer siding with Scripture and these noted theologians, and I believe they agree with scripture. |