CONFESSION
Could it mean something else?
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If you are familiar with “confession” you've heard 1 John 1:9 ("If we confess our sins ..."). It has got to be the most exploited verse in the New Testament. It should come as no surprise since there are NO OTHER VERSES in the N.T. that seem to say we are forgiven and cleansed from our sins because we confess them. Go ahead and look for them, thou shalt not find them (There are a few verses that seem to support the traditional teaching, but not by themselves.). [A thought: How is it that Paul seemed to have totally overlooked this super-important issue? Did it just slip his mind? Perhaps God's Spirit forgot to inspire him concerning it? Or is it more likely that John didn't say what we THINK he said?]
During the past few years many others have come to this same conclusion. Based on the simple reality of the once and for all forgiveness through His death and resurrection, believers are rejecting the notion that we have to keep asking for it (assuming we have to ask for it in the first place). "It is finished" means it is finished!!
So, IF 1 John 1:9 has another meaning, what is it? If you AGREE that the traditional teaching is wrong, the best sounding alternative will be good enough. If you DON'T agree, you may let an obviously contrived view keep you in your rut of constantly questioning what Jesus really did. So, I'm asking you to reconsider the endless confession cycle in view of, both, what it CAN'T mean and what it REALLY means. AND I'm also asking you who have accepted a "good enough" interpretation of 1 John 1:9 to reconsider that maybe you know what it DOESN'T mean, but don't know what it DOES mean. There is a difference.
