Can you be sin conscious?

Can you be sin conscious?
Please think, If the sinners cannot be sin conscious, how can they know or confess that they are the sinners and that they need to repent? If the preachers cannot be sin conscious, how can they know that the sinners have the desperate need to repent and that they still have the great urgency to preach the gospel with repentance and remission of sins?
Please think again, Did Peter really tell the sinners that they can just repent without thinking of anything about their sins? No, it would be ridiculous if the people would just believe and go back immediately after hearing the preaching of Peter:

• Act 2:37-41 KJV  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (39)  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  (40)  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  (41)  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Although Peter knew that he was forgiven, he would never forget how he had been convicted of his sins when he met the Lord.

• Luk 5:8-11 KJV  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  (9)  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:  (10)  And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.  (11)  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Peter might not have sinned hypocritically like the Pharisees, but why did he say that he was a sinful man? Why was Peter so sin conscious when he met Jesus? We may not know the real reason. But we know one thing: When a sinful man meets the true Saviour, he would be convicted to think of his sins, know that he is a sinner, or confess his sins, before Him. Hence, I don't think Peter Jonah would preach and tell people to come to God without any thinking of sins or any sin conscience. Peter had heard of the Lord's preaching about the sinner's need to repent with the thinking of their sins, with sin conscience, or with the confession that they were sinners:

• Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, .. (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
• Luk 19:7-9 KJV  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.  (8)  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
• Luk 15:11-21 KJV  And he said, A certain man had two sons: ... (21) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
• Luk 13:2-5 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
• Mat 3:5-8 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.
• Luk 11:2-4 KJV  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.   
• Mat 5:20 KJV  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

In fact, before Paul met the Lord at the road of Damascus, he was almost perfect in his own belief and thought of God. Paul was so confident that he could boast that he was blameless as a Pharisee of the Pharisees and that he would certainly enter the kingdom of heaven with that righteousness. But why did Paul say  that he was still the chief of all sinners after his encounter with the Lord?

• 1Ti 1:12-15 KJV  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  (13)  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  (14)  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  (15)  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
• Php 3:3-7 KJV  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  (4)  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  (5)  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Obviously, he too had very strong sin consciousness of being a sinner after his encounter with the Lord. Hence, sin consciousness before God is not a curse; on the contrary, it is God's given permanent consciousness that lead all sinners (including the scribes and Pharisees who thought that they were righteous) to true repentance, to the constant thinking that we are all unworthy sinners before God. It's because only unworthy sinner can truly and constantly see grace or receive grace. Hence, sin conscience or sin consciousness in true repentance is not a curse or condemnation; it is an enlightenment to the grace of God:

• Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.

It is impossible to preach repentance without any mention of sins
Without any mention of sins, preaching of repentance will not bring remission of sins. If the slightest mention of sins would make everyone feeling sin conscious and condemned, would Jesus be guilty of it too because He reminds us of our sins whenever we pray or take His holy communion too? No, this is absurd.

• Mat 26:26-28 KJV  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  (27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  (28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
• Luk 11:2-4 KJV  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  (3)  Give us day by day our daily bread.  (4)  And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
• Luk 3:3 KJV  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
• Luk 24:45-47 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Act 2:38 KJV  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• Act 3:19 KJV  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (This Bible verse would prove that we must repent to be forgiven and that to repent would just need to think nothing about sins) 
• Act 10:42-44 KJV  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  (43)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  (44)  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Some radical grace preachers argue that Peter did not preach repentance; but belief only and the Holy Spirit fell upon the people. I will tell them, Please read the whole Bible. Peter told the people to believe in Him. It means to believe in all the words that He preached too. It means to repent for the remission of sins!)
• Rom 3:23-25 KJV  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  (24)  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  (25)  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Feeling of sin conscience is not always condemnation for the sinners; instead it is a blessing or grace because it could an opportunity, a privilege, a gift, or a second chance for the sinners to repent:

• Luk 13:5-9 KJV  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

There are so many Bible verses which talk about sins or mention sins with the preaching of repentance. How can we tell people not to be sin conscious at all? However, there is a group of people who would become restless whenever they hear people preaching repentance with any mention of sins. They don't mind if people would just tell them to 'repent' or change their mind. Are there really such people around? Yes, you bet..  They were there when they heard the preaching of repentance and became very angry. They are still here today, and they will still become very angry when they hear the preaching of repentance, preaching of their sins, or preaching of the need to turn from their sins again:

• Act 5:31-33 KJV  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  (32)  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.  (33)  When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 

It is ok to have sin conscience to repent; but not sin conscience to offer animal sacrifice
Of course, as believers, we know that there is no more sin consciousness to offer the animal sacrifice but we can never remove the sin consciousness to repent from the preaching of the gospel under the New Testament. Yes, we have no more sacrifice, but it does not mean that we have no more repentance! Yes, we have no more sin consciousness to sacrifice, but it does not mean that we have no more sin consciousness to repent:

• Heb 10:2 KJV  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
• Heb 10:26-29 KJV  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  (27)  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  (28)  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  (29)  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 

** It is normal to have godly sorrow or conviction against sins in true repentance  
The Bible has clearly shown us that many will not truly repent although they may argue vehemently that they are better preacher of repentance. Sometimes, it is difficult to identify them when they would always preach against true repentance whilst still boast about their efforts on how well they could 'repent' or how they could do better than others who preach repentance. They may even argue that their preaching of radical grace without repentance or their preaching of believing only is true repentance; but we know that they are not true preachers of repentance. We know it because they have argued like the Pharisees. Their unrepentant thought can never be hidden forever - they 'repented' without any conviction to keep the laws of God or strong conviction against sins:

• Mal 3:13-15 KJV  Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?  (14)  Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?  (15)  And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
• 2Co 7:8-11 KJV  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.  (9)  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  (10)  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  (11)  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
• Jon 3:4-10 KJV  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  (5)  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. ..  (10)  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. ...  Mat 12:39-42 KJV But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: .. (41)  The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.. (Jesus said that the people of Nineveh repented not because they believed only; but because they did more than that. They did much effort to turn from their evil way. The unrepentant generation today will ask for some other signs too, but Jesus will still tell them that there is no other sign, except the same sign for them: To Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ through His resurrection) 

Many will argue, "No, we should repent by changing our minds only. There should not be any sin conscience, conviction of sins, or confession of sins. It is ridiculous to tell everyone to beat their chest, row on the floor, and cries loudly about their sins. No, this is the Old Testament way of confessing sins. Today we don't confess sins any more; we just confess righteousness. We may tell people that we are sinners, but we will never need to confess sins because all our past, present, and future sins have been forgiven .."
I will tell them,  Yes, confession of sins by beating our chest, crying loudly in the temple, or wearing sackcloth could be the Old Testament way of repentance. However, it does not mean that there is no more confession of sins in the New Testament. Under the New Testament, we may not confess our sins by beating our chest and wearing sackcloth, but there is still confession of sins when we believe the gospel:

• Mat 3:5-8 KJV  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,  (6)  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Of course, when the Jews were baptised with the baptism of repentance, it did not mean that they had truly repented. It was just an outward expression of what should have been taken place in their heart. Hence, they must not only go through the water baptism in obedience to the preaching of the words of the Lord (as the Lord had set an example for us to follow Him and to be baptised) but they must also have the inner conviction against their sins, the godly sorrow about their sins, and the will to turn from their sins. Of course, we do not always need to beat against our chest to feel convicted against sins now or to whisper meaningless confession repetitively like a mad 'bird'; but we can certainly feel convicted to do recompense to those whom we have offended or to stop sinning against them. Hence, we can do many things in confession of our sins. It may not be always done according to our religious custom and tradition. However, it must be done out of a genuine conviction against sins from our hearts.
I will tell them, You said that you can confess that you are a sinner but you cannot confess your sins or that you have sins. Do you know what you are saying? It is like telling us that you can confess that you are a billionaire but you cannot confess your riches or that you have riches? Does it make sense? No, how can you confess that you are a sinner without confessing your sins ?

    
It is normal to have sin conscience to repent because everyone is a sinner
Many still argue, "Of course, we believe in repentance. Jesus told us to "repent and believe". It means "to change our minds and believe". Why? Last time, we were sinners. Hence, we need to change our minds "from thinking of unbelief to believing" or "from faithlessness to faith". Isn't this the true gospel of grace under the New Testament? Did Jesus mention any sin? Did Jesus say that we must repent from sins? No, He mentioned nothing about sins. It means repentance is just change of mind.. but today many people have changed the gospel of grace to condemnation of sins, reminders of sins, and sin consciousness.. it is not the gospel that Paul preached .. it is the another gospel of the law, another gospel which bring only law-conscious of doing, doing, and doing .. however, it is not the gospel which will truly bring changes to life.."
I will tell them, Ok, please pause for a while before you resuming playing it like the 'old broken record'.. Do you know why Jesus did not call the righteous to repentance, but only the sinners? It means that the repentance that Jesus preached is not something which 'non-sinners' can do. If you do not have sins, you cannot repent; you can believe or change your mind only. However, Jesus has shown us that no one is righteous enough to believe or change their minds only. All must repent and believe.

• Luk 5:31-32 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  (32)  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
• Luk 15:7-32 KJV  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.  ..  (10)  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  (11)  And he said, A certain man had two sons:  (12)  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me..  (31)  And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  (32)  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

I will tell them, You said that 'to repent and believe' is 'to change your minds and believe' with no mention of sin because Jesus never mention sin when he preached the gospel:

• Mar 1:14-15 KJV  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  (15)  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

But can you please use your anointed brain to think, Can you use one Bible verse to conclude everything? Can you say that Jesus did not mention faith or God in the Bible verse above and therefore there is no need for the preaching of faith or God? Similarly, when you quote from the following Bible verses to prove that Paul or Peter had never preached repentance, I find that it is the greatest lie to deceive the sinners and believers:

• Act 13:38 KJV  Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
• Act 10:42-44 KJV  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.  (43)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  (44)  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
• Luk 23:42-43 KJV  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  (43)  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

** Repentance is a kind of 'effort' which we must preach and no one can say that we are wrong
They will still argue, "But if we must repent with a lot of sin conscience, feeling of unworthiness, or thinking of sins, we will do our repentance with a lot of self-effort. Sin conscience always leads to self-effort. If we still want to do a lot of self-effort, we have not truly repented; we have fallen from grace.."
I will tell them, By the way, do you know why John the Baptist told the Pharisees to repent with fruits meet for repentance Mat 3:8. It means there must be 'effort' or 'works' in true repentance. Hence, Paul would never tell the believe to repent by changing their minds only. He would still preach the same repentance that the Lord and John the Baptist preached. It is a kind of self-effort which must be preached to everyone in the world in the name of the Lord:

• Luk 24:45-48 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.
• Act 26:19-21 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (20)  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.  (21)  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

I will ask them, Do you know why the Jews wanted to kill Paul? Was it because Paul told them to repent, 'metanoia', and change their mind to be more godly or to give more tithes to the churches? No, Paul told them to repent and do works (effort) which showed that they had truly repented and they couldn't.

The Bible has never told us to preach the gospel without the mention of sins or the preaching of repentance
Many of them would quote from the above Bible verses and say, "Do we see forgiveness of sin because of the grace of God? Yes, of course, certainly there is abundance of grace, radical grace. But is there any mention of sins, repentance, or turning away from sins? Where, where is repentance? No. That's why we preach only the gospel of grace.."
I will tell them,  Did you read from other Bible verses too? The following Bible verses show us clearly that Jesus forgave and there must be repentance with turning away from sins:

• Joh 8:10-11 KJV  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  (11)  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.  
• Joh 5:12-15 KJV  Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?  (13)  And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.  (14)  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.  (15)  The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
• Luk 13:2-5 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
• Luk 24:45-47 KJV  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
• Jon 3:4-10 KJV  And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.  (5)  So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. ..  (10)  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. ...  Mat 12:40-42 KJV  .. (41)  The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here..(Jesus said that the people of Nineveh repented not because they believed only but because they did more than that)
• Act 2:38-39 KJV  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (39)  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
• Act 3:19-20 KJV  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  (20)  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
• Act 8:22-23 KJV  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.  (23)  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
• Act 17:30 KJV  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
• Act 26:19-20 KJV  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:  (20)  But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
• Rev 2:5 KJV  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
• Rev 2:15-16 KJV  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  (16)  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

I will tell them, Maybe, you can tell your blinded followers to look at how the prodigal son, Zacchaeus, the woman who committed adultery, the publican who beat his chest when praying in the temple, or the thief who was hung on the cross next to Jesus, had all repented without thinking of their sins or feeling condemned by their sins, but believing only without any reminder of sins. But I would think that it is a deliberate lie which twist the mind and thinking of the people to believe in a false gospel.


What can we say about ourselves and our sins?

• Rom 3:23 KJV  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;..

Is it true? Certainly, we have seen how Paul, Peter, and John had said that they themselves, including all, have sinned too. Will they preach that only a certain group of the people, a group of the Pharisees, a group of the believers, a group of the preachers, a group of the prophets, a group of the hypocrites, a group of agnostics, a group of gnostics, or a group of heretics, have sinned? No, they would preach, "All have sinned...", to everyone everywhere they went. Now, please think, Would they preach that the 'we' in the following Bible verse is for only a certain group of people?

• 1Jn 1:10 KJV  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

No, if anyone preaches or says that he has not sinned, he is not only a liar; he makes God a liar because he tries to make people think that God is a liar for saying that we are sinners. Now, if we know that Paul, Peter, and John would say and confess that they themselves have sinned and all have sinned, would you think that they would say that the Bible verse above is not for us; but for the agnostics or gnostics only? No, I believe that all the Apostles and the true preachers of God's words will say that, not only the Bible verse above is for us; but the whole letter of John, are for us too because God is a faithful God:

• 1Jn 1:3-10 KJV  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  (4)  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  (5)  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  (6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  (9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The letter of John above was written to all those in the churches of the Apostles. Were there hypocrites, agnostics, gnostics, heretics, adulterers, thieves, lawless people, or false prophets in the churches of John or the early churches of the Apostles? Unlikely, but I don't rule out the possibility that there could be a few infiltrators who hid themselves in the churches. But when John wrote to the churches or to the believers of the churches, would he write and think of the infiltrators, agnostics, gnostics, hypocrites, or those categories of sinners who would never repent and believe; no, he wrote only to the churches, with his main focus on the children of God, young believers, or mature believers, who would repent, believe, and do the words of God.
Common sense tells us that John wrote the letter to all the believers in the churches. He won't tell the recipients of his letter to split it, and then send or read different portions of it to the different groups of people in the churches eg. the agnostics, the gnostics, the sinners, the liars, the carnal believers, the young believers, the children, the parents, the grandparents, .. etc. No, only the false prophets will split the words of God and give their own biased changing interpretation to different groups of people to please, comfort, and deceive anyone whom they like or they can associate with.


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