K109. Would Jesus still tell the believers to confess their sins today? (4)

I have said (in K106) that a believer can confess vain confession. Obviously, the confession is vain confession if it is confessed like the birds, like the sheep, or like the animals which do not know sins. Are there believers who confessed like the birds, like the sheep, like the animals, or like the hypocrites? Yes, you bet.

A. Vain repentance - it has no confession of sins and humility
Many say that they believe in repentance; but when we probe further, we realize that they believe in repentance as 'change of mind' only, with no confession of sin or the humility to admit that they are sinners. Then the same people would later say that they believe in confession of sin; but they would confess it, not because they want to repent or ask for forgiveness of sin, but because they confess it knowing that they have been forgiven.
I will tell them, If that is the case, you don't have to confess it. It is a vain confession. The Bible, in fact the Lord, has shown us that repentance and confession of sins (or the humility to admit sins) are always together:
Luk 11:4 KJV  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 15:21 KJV  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 18:14 KJV  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 19:8 KJV  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.
Hence, if we just want to repent or change our mind without doing anything or knowing why we need to repent, our repentance would be just a vain realization.

B. Vain confession - it has no repentance or turning away from sins
On the other hand, if we just want to confess sins without any repentance or turning away from our sins, it is a just vain confession too. Do we know that confessing it without knowing the meaning of confessing it is a vain confession? Similarly, confession of sins with the wrong purpose is still a vain confession too. Hence, if we confess it just because we know that we are forgiven or we are righteous, it is still a vain confession. It is meaningless, deceiving, and self-righteous. Please think (we don't have to think very deeply), Why did the Bible tell us that the sinners or agnostic believers would repent or confess sins:

1. Sinners - Act 2:37-38 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.
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;
Did they repent and confess that they are the righteousness of God ? No, I believe that they prayed and confessed that they were wrong and that they were sinners .. that they might be forgiven. It is ridiculous to think that they would confess that they were the righteousness of God or God is good. Hence, it is ridiculous to preach publicly and generally that repentance is just change of mind or having good opinion of ourselves and God.

2. Agnostic believers - 1Jn 1:9 KJV  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Although I believe that this Bible verse is for all the believers, I can accept that it is for the agnostic believers too. But please read it again, Did John say that we or the agnostic believers confess sins because we have already been forgiven or we are the righteousness of God? Did John say, If we confess our sins, we declare or confess that we are (already) forgiven? If we can declare or confess that we are already forgiven or righteous whenever we sin, we are greater than God. No, if we are the agnostic believers or sinners who know that we need to confess sin, we must humbly confess and admit that we are the sinners who have sinned or have sins. But, if we just want to confess it by confidently thinking that we are already righteous or forgiven, God will say, "Why beating around the bush? Why don't you just confess righteousness directly? Why go around in circles if you do not have the heart to repent or confess your sins in humility ?" Hence, I think, It is ridiculous to confess sin after we are made righteous (and vice versa i.e. to confess righteousness after we sin). Do you think that it is alright to reverse what God tell us to confess? Do you think that we can fool God when we confess hypocritically or evasively ?
Gal 6:7 KJV  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Please do not split the Bible and discard the Bible truth that we do not want
The Bible truth may not be what we want now, but it could be what we need in times of our need. Many still argue that 1 John 1:9 or the first chapter of John is for the agnostic believers but the subsequent chapters are for the believers. I will ask them,
1. If you were agnostic believers and you confessed your sins based on 1 John 1:9, will all of you stay there as the agnostic believers forever? Won't you be qualified to read the subsequent chapter which is written to the believers too ? - 1Jn 2:1 KJV  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
So, if you were the agnostic believers or sinners, both 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 2:1 are for you. You ought to read both chapters (and all the subsequent chapters) so that you sin not. If you still sin, you can still go back to 1 John 1:9 to confess your sin and repent.
2. But, if you were normal believers and you sinned, will all of you stay as the normal believers or the little children in 1 John  2? No, some of you may become agnostic believers because of sins, rebellion, ignorance, pride, or unrepentant spirit. Don't you think that 1 John 1:9 can still speak grace and mercy perfectly and powerfully to you? 1Jn 1:9 KJV  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Hence, both chapters should be read continuously and frequently by all the believers whether we think that we are now the agnostic believers or not. It is ridiculous to cut the letter of John in two and barred the believers from going back or going forward to read the Bible verses which might help them the most when they are the agnostic believers or normal believers.

It is not a shame to confess sins even if we need to humble ourselves and do it
Of course, sinners, agnostic believers, and normal believers can all confess sins if they need to. And we must know the reasons why we do it; otherwise, we confess in vain. I have explained (in K100) why the believers would still confess sins. It is :-
1. to remember that we ourselves are the sinners too, and therefore we ought to forgive other sinners (Luke 11:4)
2. not to think highly of ourselves and behave like Pharisees who prayed in Luk 18:14 or like Peter who became over-confident and boastful in Mat 26:33
3. to be honest about our sins and repent like the prodigal son in Luk 15:17-19, especially if we have wronged others or sin against God.
Hence, if we are honest, can we boast that we are better than the agnostic believers who need to confess sins? No, we need to humble ourselves and confess our sins too, not because we think that we are righteous, but because we realize that we are the sinners just like them too.
Many will try to challenge us, "So, you like to confess sins? Then, you'd better confess it every night 24 hours a day 7 days a week and 365 days a year .. or else you would not be saved?"
I will tell them, "Oh, is this how you argue? Now I know why you pray, confess, and chirp unceasingly like the birds or animals. Is this how you were taught by your former pastors or churches? Please ask them to repent for the mental 'torture' they have imposed on you. But if it is not true, it could be just your own created ridiculous argument against the words of God. It is like me asking you, "So, you like to confess righteousness or grace? Then, you'd better confess it every night 24 hours a day 7 days a week and 365 days a year .. or else you would not be the favor of God or the righteousness of God?" Do you know what's the problem with this kind of argument? We are putting words or accusation into the mouth of God when God did not say it. Hence, I do not have to answer you unless you can answer it yourselves.

C. Vain repentance + Vain confession = Vain salvation
We do not want to judge if there are believers who believe in vain repentance or vain confession. We trust that all believers will one day come to the true knowledge of repentance and confession. It is still not too late to repent. We can still show grace to the preachers who preach vain repentance OR vain confession ignorantly too. It is because the people who do vain repentance but confess their sins with true humility will still repent and vice versa (i.e. the people who truly repent but confess their sins ignorantly will still be saved too).
However, we want the believers to take note of those who preach BOTH vain repentance AND vain confession of sins. They can save no one because they preach a repentance and a confession knowingly and schemingly to contradict the gospel or repentance message of our Lord Jesus Christ. They may show that they have the 'anointing' or wisdom which can twist the words of God for supernatural gains and prosperity, but the Bible is very clear about it: they are the end time prophets or christs who are the 'anointed' and who will deceive many in the last days:
Mat 24:23-25 KJV  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ (anointed), or there; believe it not.  (24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  (25)  Behold, I have told you before.
1Ti 6:5 KJV  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Jud 1:10-11 KJV  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

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