So, in that verse we found that the word confess means to name the sin to God the Father. It's present tense which means we are constantly to do it. It's active which means that we have this duty to perform and we are responsible for it. It's in a subjunctive mood which is potential. We can do this. We may not do this, but if we do confess, then the rest of the verse is true of us. If a Christian confesses, the father forgives; the Holy Spirit takes control of the soul; and, the Christian is in a status of spirituality. Only Confess There are no requirements added to confess. Any requirements, like confess and be sorry; confess and promise never to do it again; confess and try better; confess and weep; or, anything else, that's all human viewpoint. That does not originate with God's thinking. That originates with somebody who is trying to play God, and, therefore, coming up with additional requirements. Be careful that somebody does not try to play God in your life. There are a lot of people around who are ready to do. There are no requirements beyond confession. We're told that God forgives us time we confess because the sin is already paid for in full on the cross. For that reason we read that He is faithful and unjust. I want to stress that it does not say that He is tender and merciful. It says that He is faithful and just--not tender and merciful, as if he were being kind enough to forget our sins, or to excuse us and to give us another chance. He had to pay for what we do. Therefore, He is just in forgiving it. Confession of sins secures forgiveness also for the sins that we have forgotten--the unknown sins. So, the confession of sin technique works whether you believe it or not. You may not use it because you do not believe it, but it still works. Dr. John E. Danish, 1973
So, in that verse we found that the word confess means to name the sin to God the Father. It's present tense which means we are constantly to do it. It's active which means that we have this duty to perform and we are responsible for it. It's in a subjunctive mood which is potential. We can do this. We may not do this, but if we do confess, then the rest of the verse is true of us. If a Christian confesses, the father forgives; the Holy Spirit takes control of the soul; and, the Christian is in a status of spirituality. Only Confess There are no requirements added to confess. Any requirements, like confess and be sorry; confess and promise never to do it again; confess and try better; confess and weep; or, anything else, that's all human viewpoint. That does not originate with God's thinking. That originates with somebody who is trying to play God, and, therefore, coming up with additional requirements. Be careful that somebody does not try to play God in your life. There are a lot of people around who are ready to do. There are no requirements beyond confession. We're told that God forgives us time we confess because the sin is already paid for in full on the cross. For that reason we read that He is faithful and unjust. I want to stress that it does not say that He is tender and merciful. It says that He is faithful and just--not tender and merciful, as if he were being kind enough to forget our sins, or to excuse us and to give us another chance. He had to pay for what we do. Therefore, He is just in forgiving it. Confession of sins secures forgiveness also for the sins that we have forgotten--the unknown sins. So, the confession of sin technique works whether you believe it or not. You may not use it because you do not believe it, but it still works. Dr. John E. Danish, 1973
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