K139. Do we confess our sins or our righteousness?

Do we confess sin only, or righteousness only? Or do we confess both? Can we mix the confessions?
I have said in K138 that guitar and music are like bread and butter. They mix or co-exist in a musical performance. It is absurd to have the guitar without any music. Grace and doctrine are like guitar and music too. Grace and doctrine and the Word are not mutually exclusive. They can co-exist in the words of God. However, there are things that God would not mix. God would separate, for example, God Himself and the mammon, the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares, the new wine and the old wine, the New Covenant and the Old Covenant, .. and etc. we do not mix the confession of our sins and the confession of our righteousness too. We certainly cannot do both confessions to God. Please think, If we need to confess that we are sinners before God, can we confess that we are righteous before God too? The confession of righteousness will contradict our first confession before God and
1. it will make our first confession of sin and humility meaningless before God.
2. In fact, that will make both of our confessions hypocritical before God.
I am not against confession; but, if we do not know the meaning or the the biblical truth of our confession, we will rather not confess it.
Mat 3:5-10 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:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  (10)  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Which confession is more biblical?
Is it confession of sin or confession of righteousness? However, the Bible has very clear instructions for us to CONFESS our sins before God (1 Jn 1:9, Luk 11:4); but it is silent about the CONFESSION of righteousness before God.
2Co 5:21 KJV  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Many quoted the Bible verse above to argue that God told them to confess only the righteousness of God. I am not against confession of righteousness, but I am certain that it is not a command or instruction for us to CONFESS it. We know about it but we do not confess it radically or boast about it before God and men. Hence, if any preachers use their confession to argue that, between the confession of sin and confession of righteousness, they can only choose one confession because both confession cannot mix, I will rather choose the confession of sin because CONFESSION of sin is more biblical based on 1 John 1:9, Luk 11:4, and 2Ch 7:14 than CONFESSION of righteousness based on 2Co 5:21.
Jesus even taught us that there were two types of confessions and He would accept only the confession that shows humility and repentance:
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, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (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.
Obviously God did not choose the publican just because he beat himself; but because he repented. God will still accept us if we confess our sins and get baptised with the sincere attitude of repentance and turning away from our sin, apart from beating ourselves or doing recompense to those we have offended. Of course, if we repent and we are 'stuck' on the cross (like the thief who was crucified beside Jesus), we are not required to do anything. However, if we know that we have stolen from the others and we are not the thief on the cross, "doing nothing" with our confession or repentance is the worst excuse we can give to God.

We can never deny the doctrine of repentance and confession of sin
Many preachers who preached against 1 John 1:9 has kept changing their biblical stand on repentance and confession.
1. Repentance - Some of them would initially preach against repentance, but when they realised that they could not deny it because both Jesus and Paul had preached repentance, they would twist the meaning of repentance as something which they have been preaching, as change of mind only or right believing only.
2. Confession of sin - Some of them would initially preach against confession of sin, but when they realised that they could not deny it because many pastors and preachers, including themselves, still lie, boast, commit adulteries, lust, and sin, they would twist their interpretation to say that they have never denied about their sins. They now say, "There is still sin in us; but no more sin on us (in God's eyes). Jesus reversed the situation to have our sins on Him when there is no sin in Him. But because He is God, Jesus and all of us have no more sin in us and on us now. So, from the beginning, we have never denied sin which is still in us. But there is no more sin on us in God's eyes NOW! We are the righteousness of God in Him in His eyes, and hence, He does not want us to confess sins to Him; but righteousness to Him now!"

We do not confess righteousness to God; we confess sin to God
I will tell them, Your doctrine is logical but it is still not biblical. In fact, it contradicts all your confession to God. Let me ask you, Do you confess to yourselves or to God that you still have sin in you?
1. If you confess to God that there is still sin in you, don't you think that it is still your confession of sin to Him? It clearly contradicts your confession of righteousness to God. However,
2. if you confess it to yourselves, I will still ask you, What's the point if you confess your sins to yourselves only? It is meaningless. The only good thing about the confession of your sins to yourselves is to know that you still have the sin conscience or the need to repent. But ultimately you must still confess it to God. Hence, if you must still confess your sins to God, it will still contradict all your confession of righteousness to God.
I can say confidently that, after I have read the Bible, God wants us to confess our sins to Him; not our righteousness to Him. I have found many Bible verses which command us to repent, confess ours sins, pray for forgiveness, and turn away from our sins, but I have yet to find Bible verses which command us to confess only our righteousness to Him. The Pharisees and hypocrites loved to confess their righteousness and good opinions to God obviously because they did not know the words of God or the will of God. 

Did Paul preach righteousness radically that grace may abound?
No, neither did he preach license to sin that grace may abound. So what did he preach or what would he preach that grace may abound? He preached the knowledge of sin or the conscience of sin to repent (not the conscience of sin to go back to the Old Covenant or the sin conscience to offer our own sacrifice under the law of Moses - Heb 10:2). He preached repentance through the baptism of Christ and that is still applicable to all the Jews and Gentiles. That's why he said:
Rom 6:1-6 KJV  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  (2)  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  (3)  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  (4)  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  (6)  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Please think, Did Paul preach grace? Yes. But does it make sense if he preached grace without preaching anything about sin? No, grace abounds only when there is sin! Without sin, there is no need for grace. Hence, the more we preach or know about sin, the more we know about our need for grace. He said, Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Rom 5:20). Hence, Paul never told us to confess righteousness that grace may abound; instead he told us to confess our sin, our disobedience (Rom 5:19), our lawlessness (Rom 5:20),  or confess that we are the sinners (Rom 5:12, 20) who need grace from God. Did Paul stop after telling us to confess or know that we are the sinners? No, he continued to preach about repentance, the baptism of death, or the crucifixion of our old man (see Rom 6:3-6 above). Hence, there is no way we can misunderstand Paul and accuse him of preaching license to sin. Paul's preaching showed clearly that:
1. he would never preach license to sin radically that grace may abound.
2. Neither would he preach righteousness radically that grace may abound too
Instead he preached sins and repentance radically that grace may abound.
Act 20:21 KJV  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 26:20-21 KJV  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.
Many argue that Paul preached only a 'repentance toward God', with no mention of sin or turning away from sin. I will ask them, Is it possible that he would just preach righteousness or grace with no mention of sin? No. Please read his words again. If you deliberately preach a 'repentance' with no mention of sin, you have not only deceived yourselves, you have also robbed the sinners of grace. When the sinners repent without knowing or confessing their sins, there is no grace from God.

Confession of sin is not just a verbal confession and 'full stop'
Many will say, "Ok, ok .. you are right biblically. We agree that we are the sinners and we must confess sin. Although we never tell the people to confess their sins, we preach that they must be saved from their sins. And when they confess that they are saved from their sins, they are saved indeed. They will just need to believe in Jesus and 'full stop'. Jesus is enough. Jesus is their finished work. Hence, what's wrong if we would just preach the finished work of Jesus with no mention of repentance or turning away from sin?"
I will tell them, There is nothing wrong if you were a first day Christian and you suddenly became an overnight street preacher who had only zeal to tell everyone to come to Jesus. However, if you are a seasoned pastor who has God's words and those 'greasy' words would still come out from your mouth, what a shame! Please read your Bible and find out if Jesus or the Apostles would tell us any 'full stop' in their words or preaching. Do you know that the parables of Jesus would always tell you to grow and bear fruits. Paul would never tell you to stop unless you have reached the finish line too:
1Co 9:24-27 KJV  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  (25)  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  (26)  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  (27)  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Php 3:12-16 KJV  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  (13)  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (15)  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  (16)  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
1Ti 6:11-14 KJV  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  (12)  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.  (13)  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;  (14)  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Ti 4:6-7 KJV  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

What is sin?
You said that you have saved many people from sin, but do you know what is sin? Sin is not just bad habits, watching pornography, and feeling condemnation against yourselves. Sin is lawlessness against God. Sin is the transgression, rebellion, or disobedience against God's laws:
1Jn 3:4 KJV  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1Jn 3:4 LITV  Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
If you say that you have saved the people from sin, did you tell them that they are saved from lawlessness or disobedience against God; not just their bad habits, their mistakes, or their pornography addiction? When they are saved from sin or lawlessness, they are not saved from the law because the law is not sin. Grace is not sin too. Law and grace can never be sin; but they can be bondage when preached wrongly or radically by the Pharisees or false prophets. Hence, being saved from the bondage of the law or grace does not mean that we have been saved from our sins. Deliverance from the false doctrine or from the bondage of the legalistic law, Old Testament law, Moses' law, Pharisees' law, corban law, circumcision law, or human law is not deliverance from sin too. The root problem of our sin is not the law, radical legalism, immorality, fear, lust, pride, greed, flesh, homosexual activities, drug addiction, faithlessness, stress, worry, or condemnation; it is lawlessness at the garden of Eden. The root problem is: When Adam and Eve departed from God's law or disobeyed God's command, sin and lawlessness came into the hearts of men and the world:
1Jn 2:16-17 KJV  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Many think that the root problem of the world is the lust, the flesh, and the pride in the men. Yes, we do not deny that they are the cause of many problems in our world and society. But, the root still came from Adam's sin at the garden of Eden.

Sin is lawlessness or transgression of God's law
Hence, If you tell the people that they are saved from their bad habits, selfishness, or hypocrisy, they are not really saved from sin yet, even though you may convince them not to think of any law or any sin. They may still be selfish and hypocritical. But if they are really saved from sin or lawlessness, they will no longer be lawless in their hearts and minds, and they will keep all things that are commanded by the Father, and the Father will dwell in them and help them to overcome the problem of sin, not immediately, but gradually as they learn to know and ask for the will of the Father to be done in their lives:
Joh 15:8-16 KJV Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  (9)  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  (10)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love .. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  (15)  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  (16)  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Hence, removing the law is not the solution. But many still argue that removing the law will remove sin and solve the problem based on their own interpretation of the following Bible verses:
Rom 5:20 KJV  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Rom 7:9-13 KJV  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  (10)  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  (11)  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.  (12)  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.  (13)  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
I will tell them, Yes, the law reveals sin, and hence, if there is no law, there won't be any sin. But did Paul say that we can remove the law of God? No, God forbid. Jesus did not come to replace God's law so that we have no more law too.
1. Jesus did not come to remove the law and remove the knowledge of sins so that we no longer need to confess our sins to God or obey His laws, but
2. Jesus came to fulfil the law and remove the penalty of our sins so that we can be under a higher law to serve the law of God without the condemnation of the law (Rom 7:25, 8:1). If we read the whole chapters of Rom 7 and 8, we will understand the whole Bible context about:
a. serving of God's law without
b. condemnation of the law.
Hence, if sin is lawlessness and we know that we must be saved from lawlessness, what do we do? We turn away from it. In another words, we turn away from sin, from lawlessness, from disobedience, or from rejecting His laws and commandments, and this is repentance too. Hence, Paul could never contradict himself when he said that he still served the law of God. He showed us that he was still under the law of Christ and yet it was still the law of God:
1Co 9:20-21 KJV  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;  (21)  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Rom 7:25 KJV  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (8:1-7) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

We are the sinners because we sin against His laws
We are the sinners not just because we have 'big' sins (when we kill and steal) or 'small' sins (when we lie and entertain bad thoughts). 
Paul said clearly that our mind is in enmity against God when it is not subject to the law of God. In another words, we sin against God when we rebel against His law or commandment. This reminds me of how the prodigal son sinned against God too. Obviously the prodigal son did not sin against his father because he lived a sinful lifestyle and wasted all his money; but because he turned away from his father and his father's commandment, in contrast against his elder brother who still stayed with his father and kept his father's commandment:
Luk 15:13-19 KJV  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living...  (17)  And when he came to himself, he said, ..  (18)  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  .. (25) Now his elder son was in the field: .. (28)  And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.  (29)  And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: .. (30)  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.  (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.
The jealous elder brother was not a good brother; however, listen to what the father said to him: "Son, thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine". It means he was still a son even though he was jealous and angry of his brother. Hence, God do not judge just based on our jealousy or anger; God will judge based on our sin against Him and His laws.
Many will argue, "But we can never keep the law of God. If we break one law, we break all the law .." I will tell them, Yes, you are right to say that you can never keep the law, but who told you that if you cannot keep one law, you can keep no more law or break all the laws? No, only the devils will preach that. Yes, you are right to say that you can never keep the law, but that is the reason why you know:
1. that you must be constantly under grace and that you still need grace after you have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ. That will also make you realise,
2. that you are not exempted from being in constant repentance attitude, in consciousness of your sinner's nature, and in humility whenever you come before God too.
3. That's why Paul would still confess that he 'was' still a sinner ('of whom I am chief') in present tense
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.

We do not radically confess our righteousness TO OURSELVES; otherwise, how can we confess our sins TO GOD
Some will still argue, "Ok, yes we agree that it is not right to confess our righteousness to God. However, what's wrong if we confess our righteousness in God to ourselves? If you listen to us carefully, we have never said that we should confess it to GOD; we confess it to OURSELVES. That's why we encourage ourselves to confess it radically 500 times, 5000 times, or as many times as possible, to convince ourselves that we are righteous. When we are convinced that we are righteous, we will not feel condemnation or conscience of sin anymore. When we do not feel condemned, naturally we will feel the grace or the favour of God. When we feel that we have the favour of God, we will not sin and we will prosper too. I have countless of cases and testimonies which show that people who keep confessing that they are righteous would never sin anymore. They have stopped watching pornography and committing adulteries .."
I will tell them, It is too early to say that they will never sin again. Please think, Will a weak or sinning Christian always confess "I'm righteous in Christ" while he is still in the midst of stealing, lying, watching porno, or committing adulteries? No, it is quite unlikely.
1. If he does that, he is an abnormal Christian.
2. But if a normal Christian would take time to seriously think, remember the words of God, and turn away from sin, he would not need to confess "I'm the righteousness of God". He can just confess "I am a Christian" or "I'm a child of God" and he will still feel the power of God to overcome sins too. However, if he had sinned, confession of righteousness can never give him any power to overcome sin. He should take time to seriously reflect and confess his sins to God instead. When he is humble enough to confess it to God, God will forgive him and give him the power to overcome sins (1 John 1:9).
Please think. If you confess your righteousness (in Christ) so radically that you are convinced that you are so righteous in God's eyes that you can never sin, can you still confess your sins to God when you sin? No, it is unlikely that you will confess your sins or know your sins when you have radically conditioned, brainwashed, or hypnotised your minds to think of only your righteousness in God. I may deduce boldly that you may never confess your sins since the day you heard or believed the gospel of 'righteousness' or 'no condemnation' from the preachers who do not believe in any confession of sins too.
1. I think the Pharisees are like the 'garlic' people. But I must say that I love garlic and there is nothing wrong with the garlic too. The 'garlic' people are fine, but only, until they open their mouths. The moment they start to open their mouths and repeatedly say "I am the garlic, garlic, garlic ..", everything about them start to change. It is because the more they say it, the more they will fill the room with their garlic smell. And they do not know how repulsive they are.
2. Similarly, the 'righteousness' people are like the 'garlic' people too. I love righteousness and there is nothing wrong with being righteous too. But, if the 'righteousness' people start to argue, debate, and repeatedly say "I am the righteousness of .., I'm very righteous .., I'm more righteous than ..", they can become very repulsive to the other people too, even though they can prove that they are very righteous in their own eyes or in God's eyes. Obviously they do not know how badly they smelled when they ate too much garlics and opened their mouths at the same time too.

We are like garlics if we like to boast
Many will argue, "How can we accept your garlic nonsense? The righteousness of God can never be garlics. What you say is just your garlic doctrine; it's not in the words or the doctrine of God. We are not garlics. Do you know how much I have helped those who feel condemned with the confession of righteousness instead of the confession of sin, repentance, and death? The problem of our churches today is not because there are too many sinners who need to confess their sins and repent; but because there are too many people who need to hear the no condemnation messages to stop feeling condemned, sinful, and dead. Many of us still need to be told that we have no more sin, no more condemnation, and no more garlics nonsense .."
I will tell them, No, there are still many people who need to 'die'. If the people do not feel condemned, repent, and die, they cannot live: Joh 12:24-25 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
But I do not deny that my garlic metaphor is a garlic nonsense, so is your garlic confession. Isa 64:6 KJV  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Yes, you are right to say that any confession or doctrine that is not a command or instruction of God is merely our own confession and 'garlic' nonsense ! If we know the words and commandments of God, we will know that confession of righteousness is not a command of God too. We can know, understand, or think of our righteousness (in Him), but if we speak, confess, and preach our righteousness (with our loud mouths) to everyone, we would smell like garlics.
Ok, I will not talk about the garlics or the Pharisees, or how we smell like garlics now. I will talk about John in the book of Revelation:
Rev 1:13-17 KJV  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  (14)  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  .. (17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last ..
I do not know the exact reason, doctrine, or theology why John fell at His feet as dead, but I know that if I were there, I would fall too irregardless of how righteous I may feel before God. I would think that we would all fall like the dead because God is holy but we are not. Some may insist that they can never fall because they are under grace and they are more righteous than those who are under the law. I will tell them, You will not fall only if you are more righteous than John but are you really more righteous than John?
Many will still argue, "We have not preached our own righteousness. We preach the righteousness of Abraham, the righteousness of God, or the righteousness of Christ. What's wrong if we preach the righteousness of God instead of our righteousness?" I will tell them, There is nothing wrong to preach the righteousness of God. But when you preach it until the people are deceived that they NEED to hear it frequently, daily, constantly, or radically from YOU instead of from His words or His commandments, it is no longer God's righteousness; it is YOUR 'righteousness'. It is your 'GARLICS'.

But we are like watchmen if we are God's churches
We know that none of us can boast and say that we are more righteous than John the disciple whom Jesus loved. But do we know that John was also the last surviving disciple when he wrote the book of Revelation? Do we know why John ate the little book which was sweet in his mouth; but bitter in his belly (Rev 10:9-10) ? It was also a metaphor about the words of God to the churches in the last days through the mouth and belly of John. The words are certainly not 'garlics'. They may start as 'honey' in the mouth (gospel); but they will end with 'bitterness' in the belly (judgement). Obviously John was a typology of the prophet who was sent to prophesy 'again' to God's people and the churches of God under the New Testament, like Ezekiel who was sent to prophesy the words to the Israelites and the house of God under the Old Testament:
Eze 3:2-5 KJV  So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.  (3)  And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.  (4)  And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.  (5)  For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel .. (11) And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. ..  (14) So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
Rev 10:9-11 KJV  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.  (10)  And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.  (11)  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Please think, What is the role of our churches today? Is it just to preach the 'honey' and 'money'? No, our churches today must know their role as a 'watchman'. If John and Ezekiel must prophesy with the 'honey' AND the judgement as written and shown clearly to us through the book of Revelation and Ezekiel, do we have the excuse to choose only the 'honey' which we like to preach? I don't think so:
Eze 3:14-27 KJV  So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me .. (16) And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (17)  Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.  (18)  When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. .. (20)  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand .. (27)  But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.
Rev 22:10-16 KJV  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.  (11)  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  (12)  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  (13)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  (14)  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  (15)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  (16)  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

We do not preach fire and brimstone; we preach the truth
Many will still argue, "Yes, we know that God has commanded us to preach some kind of warnings, but did He tell us clearly what kind of warnings we must preach? No, most of us are not sure if we should preach like the 'fire and brimstone' preachers who judge or keep pointing fingers at others. If there is no clear warning, we would rather preach like grace preachers, and we will just preach the promises, the blessings, and the positive confessions only .." I will tell them, Yes, God's preachers will write with their fingers; but they do not point with their fingers. God wrote with His fingers. Jesus wrote with His fingers too. What's wrong? God's warning (see Eze 3:14-27) is a warning to all men, including the wicked and the righteous, that they will die if they continue to do wickedness or turn to do wickedness. It is also a serious warning to any preacher, pastor, priest, prophet, prince, publican, or Pharisee who preach against His warning, twist it, and lie like the serpent:
Gen 3:4 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Mal 2:7-17 KJV For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  (8)  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts .. (17) Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? .. 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.

We should judge ourselves before God will judge us
Many will say, "DON'T JUDGE ! How can you say that we brainwash ourselves or the people? We have been preaching grace to the people who are under the bondage of the law, rigid doctrine, and condemnation. There are too many condemnation preachers who talk about sins to condemn you. We should preach only the righteousness of God and grace to the people .."
I will tell them, I don't care who can preach more grace or more righteousness. Please be honest, If someone tells you to confess it or think about it 500 times or 5000 times, do you follow him blindly? Did I exaggerate or judge wrongly when I said that what you did was brainwashing too? I would even say that the use of Holy Communion to blind the thinking of the people so that they will do it radically everyday or every hour for the forgiveness of their sins, for healing, for prosperity, or for longevity (to live up to 120 years old) is a brainwashing technique too. Please think, What did the Lord say about the Holy Communion? Is it for health and wealth? No, it is for the remembrance of His death. However, you need a lot of brainwashing, false teaching, hard selling, and long twisted interpretation to believe that the remembrance of His death will finally lead to health and wealth:
1Co 11:24-32 KJV  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (25)  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  (26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.  (27)  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  (28)  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  (29)  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  (30)  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  (31)  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  (32)  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
How do we eat it worthily? It is when we eat it for the right purpose and with a pure mind. However, if we (especially the preachers) twist the teaching of the Lord and do it for the hidden purposes and with a corrupted mind without examining ourselves or discerning the Lord's body, we will be judged with sickness, weakness, and death like many. Hence, it is better for us to examine ourselves, discern the Lord's body, and judge ourselves first before we partake or conduct the Holy Communion. If we do that, we will not be judged or condemned with the world; we will be chastened by the Lord instead. It is better to fall into the judging hand of the Lord than being condemned with the world. Many preachers today like to preach the Holy Communion or the blood of Jesus like it is a protection gear or the Iron Man's suit or Holywood fantasy. But how many will preach it with the examination of their lives with repentance and obedience to the words of Christ? https://plus.google.com/103386467367636094616/posts/PYpc9uTCPF6
I will tell them, The scary part of the Holy Communion warning is not the judging or examining of ourselves, or chastening by the Lord; it is the possibility that a BELIEVER purchased by the blood of Christ can be judged or condemned with the world. This should wake us up.

We should remember the Lord's death with sound doctrine and sound  teaching
If we put ourselves in remembrance of the good doctrine or sound doctrine, we will live; otherwise, we will be brainwashed by the false prophets:
1. 1Ti 4:6 KJV  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

2. 2Pe 3:1-3 KJV  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  (2)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:  (3)  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

3. 2Pe 1:7-12 KJV  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  (8)  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (9)  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  (10)  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (11)  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  (12)  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

4. 2Ti 2:14-15 KJV  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  (15)  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Can law and grace mix?
Many will ask, "You said that we cannot mix the confession of sin and confession of righteousness; how about law and grace?"
I will tell them, That will depend on what kind of law and how you 'mix' them. Today we do not simply mix up everything and follow everything blindly. We do not overturn the tables of all the moneychangers or tell the lawyers that they are hypocrites. No, neither do we say that all the laws are bondages to men too. We must know and preach the Bible context on why Jesus
a. overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the temple,
b. judged the lawyers as hypocrites, and
c. condemned the law of Moses taught by the Pharisees as bondages.
Yes, the law of the Old Covenant and the law of the New Covenant are mutually exclusive. They cannot mix. Hence, the law of Moses and the grace of Jesus Christ do not mix too.
1. But, if we say that we cannot mix any law with grace because we cannot mix the old covenant law and the new covenant law,
2. it is like telling the people that we cannot mix any teaching with grace too just because we cannot mix the old wine teaching and the new wine teaching. That is ridiculous. We are not saved by any law or any teaching, but it does not mean that there is no more law or no more teaching under grace. If the doctrine of Christ is based on the law of God and it is in the grace of God, how can we separate the law of God from grace?

a. We are not saved by law, but do we know that words, law, doctrine, and teaching are neutral by itself and that there can be new teaching and old teaching, good law and bad law, God's law and men's law, and good doctrine and bad doctrine too, depending on what is being taught? Of course, the law (of Moses) and grace do not co-exist (Joh 1:17). But we must not confuse the obsolete law with all the law of God because there is always law in God's covenants to men. Obviously those who argue vehemently that law and grace CANNOT CO-EXIST are ignorant or they need to explain their motives and intentions for preaching against all the laws and doctrine of God. They may teach grace 'doctrinally' correct but they could still be lawless in their motives too. For example, they think that it is good or doctrinally correct to be SAVED BY GRACE ALONE; and therefore, they can take advantage of it to reject all the law and doctrine of God and feel justified about doing it too. This mentality is like knowing that they are SAVED BY THE DOCTORS ONLY; and therefore, they feel justified to despise all the nurses and others who did not treat them directly.

b. We are not saved by works or fruits too, but does that mean that there is no more works by faith? No. Can faith and works co-exist? Certainly yes. If James said that you must have faith and works, he meant that faith and works can co-exist (Jas 2:20). They are always together in the will of God.
Jas 2:17-21 KJV  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. .. (19)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  (20)  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?  (21)  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? .. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
We are not saved by works, but can we be justified without works? No, neither can we live without the Spirit of God too.
Many will argue, "That's the teaching of James for those who are under the law. But Paul told us that we are saved by faith ALONE." I will challenge them to find any Bible verse which tells us that we are saved by faith ALONE. I can assuredly say that they can find ".. saved by faith", ".. by grace", ".. by the blood", and ".. by Christ", but never ".. by faith ALONE".

c. We are not saved by the Holy Spirit but we are saved by Jesus because Jesus (not the Holy Spirit) died for our sins. But, strictly speaking, are we saved by Jesus ALONE? Are we saved without the Holy Spirit or His words too? It is hard not to question those who preach that they can be saved without the Holy Spirit or the Word. I will challenge them again to find any Bible verse which tells us that we are saved by Jesus ALONE (without our obedience to the Holy Spirit or His words). I will tell them, If you preached that you are saved by Jesus ALONE to contrast against all other gods or saviours, you are doing fine. But if you know that the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and the Word co-exist in the Holy Trinity and you still deliberately find Bible verses to argue that you are forever saved by Jesus ALONE without the Holy Spirit, without His words, or without His doctrine,  you are not really saved. Do you know that raising the controversial argument to find fault and depart from the teaching of His laws, commandments, doctrine, and the Holy Spirit could be a sign of lawlessness or questionable motives too?
It is quite confusing if we try to argue on the meaning of 'mix' (positively) or 'mixture' (negatively) because of our limitation in vocabulary. However, my purpose of talking about law and grace today is not to explore and exploit on the law and grace controversy again.


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