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QUESTION 56
Is it not right to confess your sins to God and ask Jesus for forgiveness?

ANSWER:
I know of no scripture that tells an unsaved person to do either. This, like many other traditions of men, has been passed down from generation to generation without examining whether it is scriptural.

The Bible, tells us to "repent" not "confess," Luke 13:3 and Acts 17:30. You can confess without repenting. It will do no good. Confession is verbal. Repentance is mental. It comes from a compound word "after- mind or a mind after." It means you turn in your heart from sinning against God. It is a change of purpose. God is waiting for people to repent, not confess, 2 Peter 3:9. God has provided forgiveness for all through the shed blood of Christ. It was preached in the New Testament, Acts 13:38-39.

You do not have to ask to get it but BELIEVE, Acts 10:43, "To Him give all the prophets witness, that whosoever believeth on Him shall receive remission (forgiveness) of sins" Asking is not necessary, but BELIEVING is. Asking is like confessing, it is verbal. Believing has to do with the heart, Acts 8:37 and Romans 10:9. Jesus put it well in Mark 1:15, "Repent and believe the gospel" Neither of these is confessing and asking.

Dear reader, don't let the Devil deceive you. You can confess, ask and hope for eternal life or you can repent and believe and HAVE eternal life (see Acts 10:43 and John 3:16). On the authority of God's word and promises you can be sure. "He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life" John 3:36.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen