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Post by benjoseph on Mar 4, 2009 14:56:48 GMT -5
1. Does repentance include or lead to apologizing to everyone you've wronged in the past? 2. Doesn't that mean everyone? (since a sinner always dealt selfishly with all people) 2B. Who exactly does it mean, if not everyone, and why? 3. Is such confession/apology always consistent with love? 4. I've heard people say that confession of sin should be as public as the sin itself....I can think of situations that I don't know how to apply that to. Are there more specific, thorough, and/or fundamental principles to base such decisions on? 5. At what point should a person consider taking comfort in the atonement of Jesus if they are faced with this knowledge? After they confess and apologize to everyone? As soon as they are willing to do so? 6. Has anyone here examined their life to ensure as much as possible that they have not left any sin unconfessed? 7. Has anyone here confessed and apologized to a large number of people after such introspection? 8. Wouldn't someone hesitant to do this because of embarrassment deserve hell until they actually followed through? 9. If someone was more afraid of going to hell for not doing this than they were motivated by love for God and man wouldn't they still deserve hell? 10. How can you tell what your motives are when emotions are so intense?
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Post by fs on Mar 4, 2009 19:44:41 GMT -5
Good questions, but I know of no easy answers.
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Post by debonnaire on Mar 5, 2009 4:20:34 GMT -5
Hi Benjoseph
Are you talking exclusively of sins that have to do with our interaction with other people, or of sins which consist of sinning against God alone as well ?
Also, is it about confession at conversion [where the new convert confess Jesus-Christ before people , which means making your faith in Jesus and your turn away from sin known by words and behaviour, witnessing of how Jesus-Christ has delivered him] or of the occasional sin that the Christian can make ?
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Post by debonnaire on Mar 5, 2009 6:01:46 GMT -5
if the believer sins only against God and his own soul, [for example getting drunking] or sins against others or his own soul but without offense [for ex : lusting a woman in his heart without her being aware of it] he doesn’t have to tell about this to the woman or to others but go to God to be purified and delivered.... Then he will be able to witness that Jesus has delivered him of such [alcohol] or such [lust after woman] without telling every detail.
So let us assume that it is only about sins concerning interactions with people , such as stealing, cheating , lying, fornicating, insulting , mocking, threatening , all sins which involve other people and with outwards actions...
in the measure of the possible, yes the believer should apologize publicly. But that does not mean that the believer has to tell everyone about it, and in some cases it is not even possible. For example, if you sin against the body of Christ at large (ex : spreading false teachings) , you don’t have to confess your sin to the whole world when you return to the true Gospel , but you will have to apologize to the body of Christ. Or if you have stolen things to someone when you were a child, now that you are converted as an adult , you can’t go and try to find this fellow that you don’t even know where he is leaving now. If a Christian sins obviously against his neighbour (believer or unbeliever) publicly (for example insulting the neighbour) , he will be convinced immediately of sin and therefore be able to apologize publicly. If he is a bit late, and the person he has offended has left the place, he has to go to this person and apologize , and it does not matter if this person is now alone or in the midst of other people who are not concerned by this , he will simply apologize. He will also witness to the others who were present , that he was wrong in offending the other person.
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miche
New Member
... among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life ... (Philippians 2:15
Posts: 47
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Post by miche on Mar 5, 2009 23:22:03 GMT -5
Godly wisdom needed.
Debonnair's answers above seem pretty good to me as a general guideline. What do you think, guys? I would be interested in how others would reply to BenJoseph's questions(the other ones up there too). And I'm sure BenJoseph would appreciate more replies as this seems to be weighing very heavy on his heart.
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kenm
Full Member
Posts: 173
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Post by kenm on Mar 5, 2009 23:35:38 GMT -5
My two cents if you want it is this,
A person should apologize if it is possible. If a person is dead that you wronged or you do not know there where a bouts than it is not possible.
But this is not a condition of salvation. Repenting is turning from your sin. We can not go back in time and undo sin. The blood of Jesus is sufficient for that.
Our salvation is through the power of Christ's atoning work on the cross and our faith and repentance of sin. That means to turn from present sin.
I can not change what has happened in the past because it has already happened and I can not control the future because it has not happened yet, so that means I am only in control of the now. I can choose not to sin now, that would be repenting of my past sin as I am choosing not to do it now.
Apologies would be a good way to share Jesus with others as you could explain why you want to apologize but the Bible is pretty clear that it takes only repentance and faith in Jesus Christ to be saved.
Ken
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Post by debonnaire on Mar 6, 2009 7:53:08 GMT -5
for Witnessing sake, YEssss
2 very valuable cents, Ken.
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Post by benjoseph on Mar 11, 2009 19:23:33 GMT -5
I appreciate everyone's input here. I think I've got a couple questions in response. Here's one, Is confession, apology, etc. (to people you have wronged): 1. a potential opportunity for witnessing 2. a mandatory expression of loving your neighbor as yourself 3. or both
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Post by debonnaire on Mar 12, 2009 1:09:51 GMT -5
I would say it is 3.both
firstly 2. loving your neighbour as yourself , which is obeying God
and also 1. witnessing , sanctification of the name of the Lord , removing an obstacle for the person i may have offended.
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