This is part of the Catholic Faith that I have difficulty with, because according to this passage, the only requirement I have to do is confess my sins. I don't have to confess my sins to any person (although I can), but God is faithful and righteous and He alone forgives me and cleanses me. And that is amazing. Now go say three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys. Haha.
I liked how Dr. Stanley explained that I have to be specific when I confess my sins to God. I can't just say, "Forgive me for all my bad words (or whatever)". And, I absolutely love that God is faithful to forgive. Love that.
I am reading a book right now that is soooo good and goes right along with the concept of "forgiveness" and "confessing our sins". The book is "Healing Where You Hurt . . . On The Inside" by Jon Eargle. It is so good and so relevent for all of us that I thought I needed to order one for each of you who would be interested in having it in your library. It is easy reading. I highly recommend it and think it is very helpful to me - and can be to all of you and your families. This book is written on the premise that all of our hurts on the inside stem from some kind of rejection! Even though it may not have been intended by the person doing the rejecting, it still can be perceived by the person as being unloved and rejected. (sometimes they really are rejected in the worst possible ways, but other times it is not intentional and barely noticed by the person doing it). Out of rejection comes low self-esteem, shyness, anger, bitterness, and many, many other sins that need to be healed and taken out of us!
The following is an excerpt from the book: The first thing is to "confess" to God. In the New Testament, the word "confess" means "to agree with God that what he is saying to you is right." So, the first step in allowing God to heal this hurt and remove it once and for all is to agree with God that you have had that anger and resentment toward someone who rejected you, hurt you deeply, for many years. Then acknowledge that it's wrong for you, wrong for your self in so many ways, that you are deeply sorry for it and that you don't want it anymore. This releases it to HIM, and HIS forgiveness comes flowing into you to cleanse away all the infection from that hurt." From 1John1:9
This is just one little part of the book. If you would like one, I have 5 on order and will gladly give you one, if you let me know you'd like it and would read it.
We could read all of 1John chapters 1 and 2. In my bible it is outlined as such:
Conditions to walk in the Light of Christ - God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. So . . .
The 1st condition is to break with sin: Acknowledge our sin, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong." Vs 9.
2nd conditions: Keep the commandments, especially the law of love. We must love one another.
3rd condition: detachment from the world. You must not love this passing world, or anything that is in the world. Nothing the world has to offer could ever come from the Father, but only from the world; and the world with all it craves for, is coming to an end! BUT,- anyone who does the will of God remains forever!" vs 15-17
Fourth condition: Be on guard against the enemies of Christ. We have been anointed by the Holy One, a people set apart, and have all received the knowledge. . . . Keep alive in yourselves what you were taught in the beginning: as long as what you were taught in the the beginning is alive in you, you will live in the Son and in the Father; and what is promised to you by his own promise is eternal life." Vs 20-25
I would read that book, Mom. You were telling me about that book when I was there. It sounds like it has a great message.
Dr. Charles Stanley talks about God's promises that are wihtout condition and those that are. THis promise is conditional, and you outlined the conditions beautifully here.
Wow, isn't that just how our God works! He gives bits and pieces of what he wants for us to each one and when we share it it all fits together into a complete message! All I can say is - Wow!
I'll save one of the books for you. They get here next week.
You know, I find confession to be such a powerful tool to set me free from denial of any sort. When i was taking my RCIA class, i liked that they said "God already knows everything you have done....everything. Confession is more of a cleansing and healing process for your own good." Honestly, i believe that to be so true. it is like the 4th step in recovery. The truth and admitting the truth will set you free. I'm a little late here, but i would love a copy of that book. I would also be happy to order my own, just let me know. Oh and also, another really profound statement i saw somewhere..."God can heal a broken heart but first he has to have all the pieces".. Very cool..
8 comments:
This is part of the Catholic Faith that I have difficulty with, because according to this passage, the only requirement I have to do is confess my sins. I don't have to confess my sins to any person (although I can), but God is faithful and righteous and He alone forgives me and cleanses me. And that is amazing.
Now go say three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys. Haha.
I liked how Dr. Stanley explained that I have to be specific when I confess my sins to God. I can't just say, "Forgive me for all my bad words (or whatever)". And, I absolutely love that God is faithful to forgive. Love that.
I am reading a book right now that is soooo good and goes right along with the concept of "forgiveness" and "confessing our sins". The book is "Healing Where You Hurt . . . On The Inside" by Jon Eargle. It is so good and so relevent for all of us that I thought I needed to order one for each of you who would be interested in having it in your library. It is easy reading. I highly recommend it and think it is very helpful to me - and can be to all of you and your families. This book is written on the premise that all of our hurts on the inside stem from some kind of rejection! Even though it may not have been intended by the person doing the rejecting, it still can be perceived by the person as being unloved and rejected. (sometimes they really are rejected in the worst possible ways, but other times it is not intentional and barely noticed by the person doing it). Out of rejection comes low self-esteem, shyness, anger, bitterness, and many, many other sins that need to be healed and taken out of us!
The following is an excerpt from the book:
The first thing is to "confess" to God. In the New Testament, the word "confess" means "to agree with God that what he is saying to you is right." So, the first step in allowing God to heal this hurt and remove it once and for all is to agree with God that you have had that anger and resentment toward someone who rejected you, hurt you deeply, for many years. Then acknowledge that it's wrong for you, wrong for your self in so many ways, that you are deeply sorry for it and that you don't want it anymore. This releases it to HIM, and HIS forgiveness comes flowing into you to cleanse away all the infection from that hurt." From 1John1:9
This is just one little part of the book. If you would like one, I have 5 on order and will gladly give you one, if you let me know you'd like it and would read it.
We could read all of 1John chapters 1 and 2. In my bible it is outlined as such:
Conditions to walk in the Light of Christ - God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. So . . .
The 1st condition is to break with sin: Acknowledge our sin, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us from everything that is wrong." Vs 9.
2nd conditions: Keep the commandments, especially the law of love. We must love one another.
3rd condition: detachment from the world. You must not love this passing world, or anything that is in the world. Nothing the world has to offer could ever come from the Father, but only from the world; and the world with all it craves for, is coming to an end! BUT,- anyone who does the will of God remains forever!" vs 15-17
Fourth condition: Be on guard against the enemies of Christ. We have been anointed by the Holy One, a people set apart, and have all received the knowledge. . . .
Keep alive in yourselves what you were taught in the beginning:
as long as what you were taught in the the beginning is alive in you, you will live in the Son and in the Father; and what is promised to you by his own promise is eternal life." Vs 20-25
I would read that book, Mom. You were telling me about that book when I was there. It sounds like it has a great message.
Dr. Charles Stanley talks about God's promises that are wihtout condition and those that are. THis promise is conditional, and you outlined the conditions beautifully here.
Wow, isn't that just how our God works! He gives bits and pieces of what he wants for us to each one and when we share it it all fits together into a complete message! All I can say is - Wow!
I'll save one of the books for you. They get here next week.
I will borrow one of the books too, and return it so another can read it when I'm done. I need work in this area. Thank you for the teaching.
You know, I find confession to be such a powerful tool to set me free from denial of any sort. When i was taking my RCIA class, i liked that they said "God already knows everything you have done....everything. Confession is more of a cleansing and healing process for your own good." Honestly, i believe that to be so true. it is like the 4th step in recovery. The truth and admitting the truth will set you free. I'm a little late here, but i would love a copy of that book. I would also be happy to order my own, just let me know.
Oh and also, another really profound statement i saw somewhere..."God can heal a broken heart but first he has to have all the pieces".. Very cool..
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