Subject: salvation |
Bible Note: Dear Dr. Steeno, We know that Jesus' suffered in our place and made it possible for us to have our sins taken away, and so, we can have fellowship with God. We also know that we must confess our sins in order for our sins to be forgiven, that is we must turn away from sin and turn too God (i.e. repentance) We know too that God looks at the heart, and to suggest that, "asking for forgiveness," will somehow, "insult God," just because we know that the work has already been done for that to be possible, would render repentance as nothing but a mechanical act with no heart in it at all. Read the story of the prodigal son my friend and see how God feels about one of His own falling away in sin and living as the world, and then seeing his sin, and asking his Father, with a penitent heart, to take him back. Luke 15:20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." It's a two way street my friend, yes, the work of The Cross is past tense, but that work is still being done today in the heart of the believer, and it depends on wether we ask for forgiveness. Confession, without contrition, is only a mechanical act, and really, no confession at all. God judges the heart, not just the words, words without love, are just noise. Rom 12:9 1 Cor 13:1 God bless John |