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#7
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Quote:
Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.This is my understanding. First, we should all know we are “worthy” based on receiving the perfect person, Jesus Christ, and believing in Him alone. As a believer and current follower of Christ, confessing my sin does not make or qualify me as a more “worthy” believer. Living a specific lifestyle does not make me “worthy” as a believer. Reading my Bible, praying, soul winning, eating vegetables, or drinking water does not make me “worthy” as a believer. Having perfect thoughts, perfect words, perfect attitudes, and perfect deeds does not make me “worthy” as a believer. Christ hath made us worthy. If you were required to come in observance of the Lord’s Supper as a “sinless” and “perfect” mortal human being then you would not qualify to observe the Lord’s Supper—none of us would. But this is exactly what many teach regarding this particular passage in churches today. We are unworthy (they say) so in solemn, humble, and mournful defeat we should come crawling before the Lord’s Table and plead for forgiveness of our sins so as to not partake in an unworthy manner. We are told to confess sins that are already forgiven. Our sins are forgiven because they are washed in the precious blood of Christ! The erroneous counsel is: “You better come clean by ‘confessing’ all ‘known’ sins so you can be worthy and not die or become sick as a result of God’s judgment in your life”. The “legalist” and “controlling” pastor who fears teaching “grace” because there may be those who abuse it, ultimately uses this warning as an instrument to manage and legislate holy behavior in the member’s life. Some, on the other hand, do it simply because they aren’t really reading the scripture and what the words say. If you are confessing sin in order to be forgiven and to become worthy you simply do not understand the power, efficacy, and finality of Christ’s blood and the forgiveness of sin—past, present, and future—that’s already yours in Christ. Let me clearly say in no way am I suggesting that the truth of Biblical forgiveness is a divine permission slip that encourages you to go forth and commit random acts of sin freely. Understanding forgiveness actually promotes the faith, love, freedom, and desire necessary to obey Christ. Grace through Christ and the Holy Spirit operating with the sharp shears of God’s word keeps me “purged” and “pruned” so I will bring forth fruit, more fruit, even much fruit. We should always “repent” from sin as believers when the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, through His word opens our eyes to any and all personal sinful behavior. But “confession” for the purpose of being “forgiven for sins” and “cleansed from all unrighteousness” for something that has already occurred (in the life of a believer) when we first came in faith to Christ, in my opinion, is not accurate teaching. Why confess sin that’s already washed in the precious blood of Jesus? Why confess sin in order to be cleansed from unrighteousness when you already are righteous in Christ? And please don’t say in order to restore fellowship with God. That is not what the scripture says. Our fellowship with God, as a believer who is now in Christ, is never broken. We are always in the light because God who is LIGHT dwells in us. Repent, yes. Confess, no. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Let me ask you a question, believer. Do we have redemption and forgiveness through His blood according to the riches of His grace? Why then do you need to “confess” sins you are already forgiven for? Does a “believer” confess their sins in order to restore fellowship? Is that what 1 John 1:9 says? 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [Or does it say if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to restore our fellowship?]Are we “…the righteousness of God in him” only when we live in sinless perfection? Is that what the Holy Scripture is teaching? The “unworthy” issue at the church in Corinth is clarified with this verse. 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.They (the church at Corinth) failed to “discern the Lord’s body” and were therefore observing the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. That was the issue. What does it mean to discern the Lord’s body? “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” And “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” Remember? As often as we observe the Lord’s Supper let us remember that He died for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day, and is ascended where He sits in final rule and authority. Remember you are cleansed, washed, declared righteous, and reconciled with God through Christ Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is a time of remembrance that causes me to rejoice in and boast in the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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