As you know, Web 2.0 is all about the conversation. But without a few simple ground rules, that conversation can turn into a shouting match that discourages others from entering into the fray.So here is my comments policy. By posting on my blog, you agree to the following:
1. You may comment without registering. You can log-in via Disqus, OpenID, Twitter, Facebook – or not at all. It’s up to you.
2. You may post anonymously. I don’t recommend this, but you may do so if you wish. I may change this rule if it is abused.
3. You may post follow-up questions. If you have a question, chances are you are not alone. Others are likely thinking similarly. Therefore, I would rather receive your comments on my blog than via email. It is a better use of my time to address everyone at once rather than answer several similar emails.
4. You may disagree with me. I welcome debate. However, I ask that if you disagree with me – or anyone else, for that matter – do so in a way that is respectful. In my opinion, there is way too much shouting in the public square to tolerate it here.
5. I reserve the right to delete your comments. This is my blog. I don’t have an obligation to publish your comments.
Specifically, I will delete your comments if you post something that is, in my sole opinion, (a) snarky; (b) off-topic; (c) libelous, defamatory, abusive, harassing, threatening, profane, pornographic, offensive, false, misleading, or which otherwise violates or encourages others to violate my sense of decorum and civility or any law, including intellectual property laws; or (d) “spam,” i.e., an attempt to advertise, solicit, or otherwise promote goods and services. You may, however, post a link to your site or your most recent blog post.
6. You retain ownership of your comments. I do not own them and I expressly disclaim any and all liability that may result from them. By commenting on my site, you agree that you retain all ownership rights in what you post here and that you will relieve me from any and all liability that may result from those postings.
7. You grant me a license to post your comments. This license is worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free. You grant me the right to store, use, transmit, display, publish, reproduce, and distribute your comments in any format, including but not limited to a blog, in a book, a video, or presentation.
In short, my goal is to host interesting conversations with caring, honest, and respectful people. I believe this simple comments policy will facilitate this.
Hi, I was introduced to your channel last evening, by a friend. And have watched your mini-series on why i don’t go to church anymore and The One Simple Formula To Spot Toxic Law-Based Teachings And Avoid Bondage. Really enjoyed your talk on these subjects, and agree 100%, with all you had to say. HOWEVER, I am slightly troubled with your quotations from several versions[?] of God’s Word. My question is, Can things that are DIFFERENT, be the SAME? How can ALL these versions[?] claim to be God’s Word, when they are ALL DIFFERENT.
Personally. I Believe God PRESERVED his WORDS, just like He said He would in Psalm 12:6-7.
I would love to know your thoughts on this subject… Since you’ve been Spot-On with everything so far!!!
Hi Bas. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have discovered you. I always feel so happy after listening to you. I’ve discovered other grace teachers, like Joseph Prince, who has blessed me immensely, too. I love your clear, concise way of teaching. I’m a writer and currently trying to finish my book, “…And They Shall Never Perish…” You’ve helped me some with this. I’m well acquainted with God’s grace, but I sure had a lot to learn. Thank you! How can I ask you a question regarding my healing? I’ll ask it now. I’ve suffered from insomnia and then fatigue for decades and tried everything. I know only Jesus heals me and has done so, but I’m struggling with how to get off 3 klonopins a night to help me sleep, as you cannot just quit in a day. When I try to do is gradually, I don’t get enough sleep to function normally. It’s a dilemna for me. I really want your help here. Can you answer or pray for me?
Hi Susan,
Thank you for reaching out to me.
I’ve found that Andrew Wommack has one of the most simple and best teachings on how to walk in divine health, thus apply God’s healing power that is already in you, in your daily live. Here is a good place to start listening: http://www.awmi.net/audio/audio-teachings/#/awm_1036a_atonement.mp3
In His embrace,
Bas
Just wondering how to rightly divide the word in regards to marriage and submission and head and so much of the heavy-handed marriage advice out there. I’ve been pretty beat up by it and would love a fresh look at some of the key verses from a law/gospel perspective. Resources?
Hi, just found you on youtube, i am Russian and going to Russian church building, are you still at home church, want to grow spiritually
Hi! I have a question about a post you wrote, but on that particular post, the comments are disabled. Is there another format in which I could ask you a question about your post? I also tried to connect through facebook.
Thanks so much!
Hi Bas,
I just discovered you. I listened to your Youtube about “Abiding in the Vine”.
It was liberating. Thank you so much. I feel hope. I will be watching all
your Youtubes. I cannot subscribe because of technical problems with my
computer. I wanted to let you know I will be watching. Kellye
So good to hear you are blessed by my teachings. Keep drinking the Gospel of Grace Kellye ! Bas
Hello!
My name is Maddalena and I live in Italy.
I have read one of your books.
I don’t understand if you are catholic or not.
Can you tell me please?
Thank you
Good question, and a funny one too. I don’t consider myself to be anything BUT to be a believer in Jesus (just like you if you know Him). You know Maddalena, all these names like “catholic, protestant, lutherism, baptist, etc are made up names, made up by mankind, not by God. As God looks at us he does not see a catholic, protestant, lutherism, baptist, but he sees sons and daughters of himself He look like His Son since we are like Jesus in the Spirit. So these are all outward labels of which none of them has value, what has value is to be a son or daughter of God and to know that 🙂
Hi Bas,
I was an atheist for most of my life and have recently found God and confessed Jesus as my Lord and saviour. The sad part is that I was misled by my lack of knowledge and was misled into following law based doctrines. I’m am so thankful to have found your YouTube channel. It has blessed me and finally I can be at peace with the understandings you teach. I’m am currently alone in my walk as a believe and am trying to find others in Canada to contact. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Tala,
So great to hear you got to know Jesus personally. Right, it’s so important to expose yourself to Grace-based teachings only, or else you end up nowhere but only having guilt and condemnation instead of joy, peace and love etc. I don’t know of any people in Canada, but I’m sure there are groups and churches there that are Grace-based. So if I was you I would search, and keep searching (also googling), and find a group of believers who are there for each other.
It seems from what you are saying it that my husband who left me a year ago and moved in with my girlfriend (who both say they are Christians, she has a ministry where she sings at Christian concerts and hasn’t spoken to me since my husband moved in withe her) is going to be blessed by God because God has forgiven us of all our sins so God doesn’t even remember that my husband abandoned me or even see it because all his sins are forgiven? Andd God doesn’t remember that my best friend betrayed me all the while claiming to be Christians so she will be blessed too? If your message is true that God will bless them and make them happy while I am beyond heartbroken then that is a terrible message. Then that means that God blesses those who live in sin and mock His name.
What ever happened to these verses in the Bible:
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ”
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ”
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ” Does what my husband is doing bring Glory to God? The sad thing is that my husband believes that no matter what he does God will bless him because he has listened to messages where no matter what we do, as long as we have accepted Christ, God will bless us, even though I am now struggling financially and our house which he abandoned as well needs work. He fixes her house and shovels her driveway and I have to shovel my driveway and pay people to fix my house? Ephesians 5:10 “And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ” Is what they are doing pleasing to the Lord?
Hi Brenda,
Here are my thoughts on the idea that God remembers our sins no more…but He’s not forgetful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_AMptDv6o0
The main point of my post was is God going to bless my husband because He is forgiven? While he is away from me will he be blessed by God?
God is not GOING to bless anyone, He ALREADY has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3) regardless what someone thinks does or does not do…it’s all based on a relationship with our Father that is without conditions.
How can I express my gratitude for your work here? I dearly love Jesus Christ and I dedicate my whole life to Him. I see we are of the same mind here. I have left the institutional church due to its cold heart towards Jesus and it hot heart towards money. For the past seven years I have attended five different Protestant denominations, a Catholic church and a Greed Orthodox church. I have asked the Pastors/Priests the same question: “What is the New Covenant?”. NONE of them could answer me. They tried to dodge the question and I asked why we say at communion “this is the blood of the new covenant”. They ignored me after this.
May God pour out His blessings on you and your family until you ask Him to stop.
Larry
Hi Larry,
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words!
So good you are asking these people the question about the New Covenant….that is what it’s all about in the Gospel of grace aka knowing Jesus and what He has done for us.
In His embrace,
Bas
Hi
my name is Martin and I was introduced to you teachings about a day ago on YouTube and to be honest it’s liberating!
I want you to help me with this issue found in Hebrews 6:4
what does it really mean through the lens of Grace?
Hi Martin,
Great to meet you here. Welcome.
A brother, Paul Ellis, sums it up well what Hebrews 6:4 means trough the grace lens:
One of the benefits of believing the gospel of grace is that it changes the way you read the Bible. You realize that God is not in the bait and switch business of drawing you in with love only to hammer you with law. He is love all the way through. When you see this you will no longer get frightened when you read a passage like Hebrews 10:26 or this one four chapters earlier:
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. (Heb 6:4-6)
If you wear the lenses of performance-based Christianity, this is a scary scripture. It sounds like your salvation hinges on your behavior. Do good, get good, but fall away and you’re lost forever. If that’s how this scripture appears to you, change your glasses! What you look through determines what you see. Read this scripture through the lens of Jesus.
So who and what is this passage describing?
Some say this scripture is referring to Christians – those who have become sharers or partakers in the Holy Spirit. If so, then the argument being made is deliberately nonsensical. If they fall away it is impossible for them to get saved again because Jesus would have to come and die again. Since Jesus isn’t going to die again, then it’s impossible for them to fall away. Instead of being a threat to your eternal salvation, this verse supports it.
How many times can you be born again?
I heard one reputable teacher say that if you are saved through an act of your free will, then you can get unsaved through an act of your free will. I guess the conclusion follows the premise but how true is the premise? Were you born into this world through an act of your free will? No, you had absolutely no say in the matter. So what about your spiritual birth?
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Joh 1:12-13).
To be born again literally means to be born “from above” or, as John puts it, “born of God.” It is 100% a work of the Spirit. You may think that you came to God of your own free will, but reflect for a moment on what actually happened. Who was it that planted and watered the seed of the gospel? (Not you.) Who was it that made the seed grow? (Not you.) Who was it that lifted the veil so that you could see things as they really are? (Not you.) Do you see? You would never have called on the name of the Lord if He had not first called on you.
Here’s my point: When you were dead in the trespasses and uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with Christ (Col 2:13). You were dead; now you are alive – all this is because of Him.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, (2 Cor 5:17-18a)
The important thing is not how you got saved, but that you are saved. When you received the gift of salvation, you became a new creation. If you were to fall away, it would be impossible for you to be born again because you have already been born again. It would be like an adult trying to return to the womb and re-enter the world through the birth canal. Just as it can’t happen in the natural, it can’t happen in the spiritual. Once you’re born you’re born! To claim that you can lose your salvation – that you can undo what God has done – is like saying that God makes mistakes. And He doesn’t.
You may act like an old creation just as a butterfly may act like a caterpillar. But when you do, you are acting contrary to you true identity. We used to say that Christians who fell into sin were back-sliders. But a more accurate description is that they are hypocrites. They are acting contrary to their true identity in Christ.
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:14)
“Be holy” is not an instruction for improving performance; it’s an admonition to be who you truly are. Be holy, because you are, in fact, holy. “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus once for all” (Heb 10:10).
Eat the bread of life, don’t just taste it
Others say that this scripture (Heb 6:4-6 remember?) is referring to unbelievers. It is describing those who have tasted but not eaten the heavenly gift. They have seen the light but preferred the darkness. They may have received the gospel with joy but the seed never took root and grew. When trouble came they fell away.
Consider Judas. Along with the other disciples Judas was involved in a supernatural ministry that saw him casting out demons and healing the sick (Mk 6:13). He may have even prophesied in Jesus’ name. Judas tasted the goodness of the word of God but ultimately he rejected it. When he walked out of the first communion he walked out on Jesus. He was basically saying, “Your blood and your body are not good enough for me.” Judas preferred DIY religion to the grace of God.
Hebrews 6:4-6 says that it is impossible for people like Judas to be brought back to the place of repentance. Why? Because they have heard the truth and rejected it. Those who have never heard the good news of God’s grace may yet receive it. But those who have heard and hardened their hearts toward it, are well and truly lost.
A hard heart is a deadly thing. It will keep you from repenting. It will keep you restless and in bondage to works:
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert.” (Heb 3:7-8)
Judas heard the voice of the Living Word but hardened his heart. He became restless to the point of suicide. He never came to the place of repentance, and he never entered that rest which comes only through faith in Christ.
Righteous rain
In Hebrews 5 and 6 we learn that Jesus has been designated by God as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. To a Hebrew reader raised on the covenant of law, this would have been an astonishing announcement: “Jesus, the eternal high priest, will forever mediate a new and superior covenant of grace underwritten by the unshakeable oath of God.” There are only two possible responses to such an announcement:
Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. (Heb 6:7-8)
We can either receive the blessing of God that comes down from heaven like rain and, by so doing, become fruitful and useful, or we can reject what God offers us and be worthless and in danger of being cursed. The righteousness that God gives comes to us is like rain:
You heavens above, rain down righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness grow with it; I, the Lord, have created it. (Isa 45:8)
God sends His rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. All we can do is respond. We can either put up umbrellas of religious works and say, like Judas, “No thanks, I don’t need it.” Or we can say, “Rain on this filthy sinner and make me clean.” The bad news of the old covenant is that no one will be declared righteous by observing the law (Rom 3:20). The good news of the new is that the righteousness gifted by God comes through faith in Jesus to all who believe (Rom 3:21).
Thankyou very much!
I get it
Bas,if I call on the name of Jesus but have doubt as to whether I am saved.Am really saved or whether my future sins were taken away.
Hi Stephen, after having received Christ, and you have doubt, than that is indeed a good sign you are saved, and all your future sin are taken away forever, for good.
A good video on this is this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqf9e-Im2EE
Hello Bas, My wife found your site and encouraged me to watch some of your videos and contact you as you seem to teach what I do. I appreciate your style and refreshing simplicity. I preach and teach pure law and pure grace with no mixing, and explain how Jesus is really enough for all of life no matter the circumstance. For a few years I have been looking for a full-time assistant–someone who understands pure grace, and wants to live that out and boldly proclaim it in Mormon culture among people desperate to hear it. Do you know anyone in your circle of contacts who might be interested in and praying for this kind of opportunity? For 30+ years I have been a full-time Christian literature missionary in Logan, Utah (90+% Mormon) where USU is where 80+% of the students are Mormons and most like to discuss religion, who have been taught that grace means leniency. Sadly many Christians have been tricked to think like Mormons. I manage what looks like a beautiful Christian bookstore–Oasis Books and Conversation–inside a super popular Great Harvest Bread Company. We sell some books and give away many. The conservative pastors meet weekly at Oasis to talk and pray. We seek to build up all the saints in all the churches and promote unity among all saints. Ministry also includes preaching at USU all day Wednesdays with a big table of free books and a white board with teasing questions. I also pastor a very small church–All Saints Church–with a focus on understanding, celebrating, thriving in, and witnessing with pure unmerited favor.
I would be glad to contact anyone you suggest and explain our vision and ministry.
I am glad to stand with you in Christ’s faithfulness.
HI Brad, great to hear from you and esp how you continue to spread the Gospel…so this assistance does he or she need to live in Utah. I don’t know anyone in Utah, but if you’re looking for a virtual assistance there are some great company’s who can help find someone
Hi Bas, I am deeply appreciative of your ministry. Are you still making videos? Are you still ministering on the streets? Are you still on Twitter, as the last tweet I could find was from 2015. I’m glad to find you here. Bas what do you make of the master that goes away and gives differing amounts of funds to his slaves? Ultimately casting into the fire the one who buried his coins? Is this speaking to the house of Israel if not to whom?
Additionally, are more videos available through your download? I truly appreciate it and am blessed through it.
Hi Tim, Good to hear from you. I havent been making videos for a while now since I’ve been focussing on creating some bussineses to be financially independent. At some point I’ll create more content, not sure when though. I have not meditate on that portion of scripture enough to give you a clear cut answer….But yeah there are more than 80 videos you can access for a small fee in a private membership site: https://www.basrijksen.com/freedom
Hi Bas Rijksen
What is your view on praying in tongues from a 1 Corinthians 14 perspective? Whats going on in charismatic churches (been there many years ago) may be demonic forces. But when i speak in tongues my hands can tickle – but if thats a bad road too what does it mean to pray in spirit as spiritual warfare?
hi Lars, I don’t know what’s all going in the charismatic churches, but praying in tongues is a wonderful gift that comes with the whole ‘package’ of the Holy Spirit, personally speaking in tongues has become second nature bc I’ve done it so much and it helps so much to continuously to walk in the Spirit, but it’s also powerful bc you are praying perfect prayers as the Spirit is praying for us through us, my hand often shakes as an outward expression of his might flowing out, yours tickles can’t be wrong if you are desiring and focused on God and things of him.
Maybe someone on this site can help me…I have been on John G Lakes site and I see no place to contact DHT people- all I see is how to be a trainer. Their DHT link shows an error page, their phone does not answer (lv a msg) and my emails of a few days ago are so far unanswered. They may answer eventually but they seem almost uncontactable unless you want a healing course. Obviously these people (and others) minister to sick people but I can’t seem to find who the ministers are or how to reach them. I have several sick Christian friends who really need a touch from the Lord!
Thanks for any help you can give.
Hi Bas-
I have a question. In 1John:5-10, John the Apostle says we must confess our sins and God will forgive us and cleanses us and if we say we have not sinned we make God a liar and His Word is not in us. There seems to be a state where we are in need of confessing our sins. If we are righteousness in Christ, then how is it we need to confess our sins? I can’t find where you addressed this topic in your videos. Can you point me to something that will explain this?
My second question is in Matthew 6:15, where Jesus said that if we don’t forgive others God will not forgive us. If all our sins are forgiven in Christ how can God ‘not forgive’ us?
I’m enjoying your videos because they point us to Jesus who fulfilled all the requirements of the law so that in Jesus I can also be free of the law and alive unto God by His grace and it is nothing of my own doing. It’s very freeing to see God’s amazing gift of Christ in this way. But, I need to understand what your stand is on our need to both ask for forgiveness and also forgive others as Jesus taught.
Thank you in advance. I hope this email gets through to you and you are able to share with me your thoughts on this. It feels like a stumbling block right now.
Hi Pixel,
Good questions, some are covered in the Radical Freedom Course, https://www.basrijksen.com///freedom, but here are some thoughts already:
On the Lords prayer/where Jesus said that if we don’t forgive others God will not forgive us. If all our sins are forgiven in Christ how can God ‘not forgive’ us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGKs2biHIe8
And confessing sin:
Confess sin to one another (James 5:16)
There are only two verses in the New Covenant that talk about confessing sin. Those are 1 John 1:9 and James 5:16. Let’s look first at James 5:16.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
Notice, what this verse is not saying. It is not saying, “confess your trespasses (sin) to God”, but “confess your trespasses (sin) to one another.” In other words, we are not suppose to go to God to first, remind ourselves of our shortcomings, and second, to confess our sins before Him to be forgiven. No, it only tells us to confess our sin or faults to one another – not to God!
In our relationships with people we sometimes offend or hurt people by what we say or do. Here, James 5:16 comes in, saying, “confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” In other words, “humble yourself, by acknowledging you’ve offended or hurt the other person, pray for each other, that it may be well with you; mentally, emotionally and physically.” We don’t need God to forgive us of our sins since He already has forgiven all our sins, past, present and future. The only sins we may need forgiveness for is from the people we have sinned against. Our relationship (right standing) with God never changes, but our relationship with people can be damaged and need, at times, to be restored.
When other people have wronged or hurt us, we forgive them as Christ forgave us, regardless if they ever apologize or ask us to forgive them. “Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col. 3:13b). Because all our sins have been forgiven, we don’t forgive others in order for God to forgive us, but we forgive others because we already have been forgiven by Him. And we forgive others who wronged us to set the captive free, then to realize that we were the captive. To harbour unforgiveness is to choose to stay in bondage to that pain and the past.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Rom. 12:17-19)
So, when wrong is done by us or towards us, from a place of being right with God, we make things right with others as much as depends on us. We don’t do the “right things” to get right with God, but because we are made right with Him, we set things right in and around us.
Confessing sin (sinful state) to be saved (1 John 1:9)
Now let’s have a look at the only other verse in the New Covenant, besides James 5:16, that talks about confessing our sins. Every Bible scholar will tell you that you cannot make a doctrine based on a single scripture, yet this is what is happening in regards to 1 John 1:9.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
First, let’s look at the context to see to whom John was writing, starting with verse 5 and 6.
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to 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 practice the truth. (1 John 1:5-6)
The term “fellowship with Him” refers to our unbroken relationship with the Father through His Son. It refers to our position before God. Jesus Christ has a perfect relationship with the Father and we being in Christ, therefore, also have a perfect relationship with the Father. A common misbelieve is that when a Christian commits sin that they fall out of fellowship with God and that they need to confess their sin in order to restore their “fellowship” with Him. A person who is out of fellowship with God is somebody who is not born again. Once somebody is put into Christ, he or she enjoys the same quality of unbroken fellowship as Jesus has with the Father. Since John is talking in verse 6 about our position in Christ and not our behaviour, he is basically saying, “You cannot say that you are a Christian, who is in relationship with God, if you are not born again and walk in darkness. John was speaking to unbelievers who are still in darkness. In the next verse he is making a contrast by talking about believers who are in the light.
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
Whenever we read the word “if” after Jesus established the New Covenant by His death and resurrection, like here, we can wrongly conclude that we still need to keep some moral standard by our own efforts to have God move on our behalf. For example, in a quick reading somebody can read into this verse the following, “If I walk in the light by trying to live up to Gods moral standards and confessing my sin, then, only then, will I be cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus.” This is not true. Again, John is not talking about our behaviour here, but about our secure position in Christ.
Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world”, therefore we can conclude that Jesus is light. When we are born again we are placed in Christ and therefore we are in the light. And because we are in the light, we also become light (Matt. 5:14, Eph. 5:8). To walk in the light refers to those who have been saved; our position is to be light and therefore we continuously walk in the light. So he is not saying that if are walking in enough obedience (light) and confess our sins that we will be cleansed of sins.
The Greek word for “cleanse” means to “continually cleanse.” We are continuously cleansed (kept clean and pure) from every sin, in our spirit, independent of our obedience or lack thereof, because we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. In Gods eyes you are clean, you stay clean and will be clean forever. If we could be cleansed of sin based on our confessing and obedience, then why would we need the blood to continuously keep us clean? We would start depending on our “good works” and not on the work of the cross to keep ourselves somehow cleansed from sin.
Certainly, looking at our behaviour we will realize that we do not always walk according to our perfect Christ-like nature that is full of light, but that is because our minds have not yet been fully renewed. The more we think upon who God is and who we are before Him, and we renew our minds through studying the Word, the more we’ll reflect the nature and mind of Christ that is in us, in our words and deeds and so be the light in a dark world.
The context of 1 John 1:9
Before we go on to look at verse 8-10 it is helpful to understand why John wrote his letters. The three letters of John were written by John to the church who had been infiltrated by teachers of Gnosticism. At the time that he wrote his three letters to “his little children” the Gnostics had already left them (1 John 2:19), but their false teaching had brought confusion, therefore John wrote to them to show how secure their position in Christ is. He understood that the best defence against heresy in the Church is to boldly preach the truth about who Jesus Christ is, what He has done on the cross, and what is means for the identity of a believer.
The false teachers of Gnosticism taught Greek philosophy which included there was a necessary separation between the physical and the spiritual – saying the physical was evil and only the spiritual was good. Their aim, therefore, was to escape material world by gaining hidden, secret knowledge (gnosis). These teachers believed they were “in the know”. Their knowledge was superior to the Church. They gave the Christians the impression that anything physical was somehow dirty or sinful and taught that there is no such thing as sin in the world, therefore an unbeliever does not have to acknowledge that they are a sinner to be born again.
If you believe that anything physical is evil and apply that thinking to Jesus, then it is impossible to accept that God (who is spiritual) could be a man (who is physical). As a result, the people believed that Jesus didn’t come in the flesh but only appeared to and a separation is made between the human Jesus from the Divine Christ. John speaks against this heresy by saying, “if you hear someone say that Jesus hasn’t come in the flesh, you know that view is inspired by the devil” (1 John 2:22, 4:3). He points out that he had seen and touched Jesus himself, pointing out that Jesus is fully God and fully man – fully divine and fully physical.
In the passage we’re discussing John continues to address the unsaved people in the church who were poisoned by false teaching, believing that they did not have any sins. To defend the truth John writes,
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
Furthermore, they believed for sinners to be born again they didn’t have to confess (agree) that they are sinful and in need for a Savior in order to be born again. To defuse this faulty believe, John throws out another “truth-bomb” about how unbelievers can get saved,
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
To confess is to agree with God. This verse states that, for an unbeliever to get saved, he or she need to come to the point where they agree with God that they are sinful and in need for forgiveness of their sin, then God, who is faithful and just, will forgive them of all of their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.
John is in his 90’s when he writes to “his little children.” He is using the word “we” to not openly come against or attack the unbelievers, but as a warm, loving grandfather revealing Gods heart for the lost by saying, “we all have sinned, and we are all in need to be saved.” In other words, “we” in the sentence “if we confess our sins…” does not refer to believers who still need to confess their sins to be cleansed and forgiven, because once a person is saved all their sins are forgiven and is cleansed of all their unrighteousness, once for all.
Then in the next verse, verse 10, John writes, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” He is still addressing people who are walking in darkness (v.6), who need to be cleansed from all unrighteousness (v. 9) and who by insisting that they have never sinned, are making God out to be a liar (v. 10). This confirms that John is talking in these verses to unbelievers (not Christians) and explains to them how to be saved, namely by acknowledging their sinful state (confess their sin) and receiving His gift of forgiveness.
In contrast, in the next chapter, he is addressing believers saying, “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12). This makes clear that once saved, a believer is not instructed to acknowledge (confess) their sins before God, but rather acknowledge and rejoice in the fact that all of their sins have been forgiven by the precious blood of Christ for His Name’s sake.
What to do if you sin?
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
Notice, that verse 1 does not say, “when anyone sins”, but “if anyone sins.” John didn’t expect the believers, who have a 100 % righteous and holy nature, to live a sinful lifestyle, but live a holy and victorious live as a result of knowing who they are in Christ. The phrase “If anyone sins” indicates that to commit sin, is a choice you make. Nobody, neither God, the devil, people, or circumstances can make you sin. Just like nobody can make you eat something, or make you jump, or make you do anything, so nobody can make you commit sin. what you do is your choice. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we have the divine ability to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12). So it’s up each Christian to what degree they effectively deny their flesh and walk in divine holiness by living according to their holy nature. We are not saying that a believer can reach a place of sinless perfection in this life. There will always be areas which we need to bring under the authority of Jesus Christ, whether it be attitudes, thought patterns, habits etc. that do not line up with His Word. Until the Lord returns we’ll need to make moment by moment decisions to live a holy lifestyle, not by us trying to live holy through our own “good works of the flesh” but through absolute dependence on the indwelling life of Christ.
If you commit sin or you find yourself being conscious of sin, you change your thinking to line up with Gods thoughts about who you are in Christ, turning away from deeds that do not correspond with your true identity as a forgiven, clean believer (this is what “repentance” means) and you could say something like, “Thank you Father that all my sins have been completely forgiven. Thank you for reminding me of my righteousness nature in Christ. I praise You that this didn’t effect our relationship, that nothing can separate me from Your love, and that You enjoy me each moment of the day, regardless of what I do or don’t do, because of your wonderful Son.” Notice that this confession (which is putting faith into words) is not focussed on sin and failure but on Christ and what He has done, because anything that makes you sin-conscious only results in a lack of confidence and freedom, which does not belong to the Christian walk.
The fact that you don’t have to confess your sins to God does not mean that you deny occasional mistakes in your life or that you can’t share your struggles and challenges with God and ask for wisdom. He is your Father who deeply loves you and adores you and from the place of intimate union with Him you are free to express yourselves at any time about anything you want. But the question is, in the midst of the weakness of your flesh, do you see yourself according the spirit as holy, blameless, forgiven, free from accusation in Christ, therefore standing before God in confidence, enjoying His indwelling presence daily or are you regularly overtaken by feelings of guilt, condemnation, anxiety or even feeling ashamed, because you are letting yourself be more conscious of sin, shortcomings and failure, therefore living a defeated, doubtful and frustrated life, not being sure who you are and how God feels about you?!
Still believe you need to confess sin?
That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:19)
God is not imputing your sins to you if you are in Christ. If He is not holding your sins against you, then what sins do you need to confess, if God is not charging you with any of them? God is love (1 John 4:16). Love keeps no record of wrong (1 Cor. 13:5). Now that God doesn’t count your sins against you anymore, you can also stop counting them by not keeping track of sin and trying to confess every sin. Your heavenly Father is not a fault-finder who has a big notepad keeping score of your good and bad thoughts or deeds, then based on the amount of “bad” starts to cut off blessings, or doesn’t answers your prayer, or stops using you, or even punishes you. No, none of your performance, whether good or bad, has any effect on how God sees or relates to you. He has bestowed every spiritual blessing upon you and loves you, not based on a virtue you have in and of yourself, but because God Himself is gracious and loving. When you do wrong, God does not keep track of your wrongdoing. Because your slate (or account) remains clean and spotless in His eyes, you can stop bringing your lists of sin up by thinking you need to confess them before your Father because He doesn’t actually know what you’re talking about!
Since God promised to never remember your sins ever again (Isaiah 43:25), why don’t you do the same by bringing your thinking in line with His thinking, to not bring sin and failures from the past to your remembrance but rather choose to focus on your holy and righteous nature? The reason why God doesn’t want you to confess your sins to Him is because you would make yourself sin-conscious, opening a door for the devil to influence your thought life, by bringing all the bad things you’ve done to remembrance, resulting in feeling guilty, condemned and fearful, while God wants you all the time to be Christ-conscious so that you walk in confidence, boldness and freedom. The deception that we need to keep bringing up our sin and failures before God is the devils tool to keep sincere Christians crippled, in despair and from not walking in power to extend the Kingdom. Every minute you spend dwelling on your sin is a minute wasted! God does not remember your sin, so you shouldn’t dwell upon it either (Heb. 10:17). There is no sin-consciousness in God’s mind. You have received the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:16) and to the degree you renew your mind you’ll have confidence before God and man to boldly preach the Gospel and display Gods power by healing the sick and delivering the oppressed in His Name.
There are plenty Christians who believe they need to keep every sin confessed. They think, “if I don’t confess, then I won’t be forgiven.” The question that arises with this mindset is, what happens when you forget to confess one or more sin? What are the consequences of not confessing or forgetting to confess sin? Being punished by God? Being rejected or losing your place in the Kingdom? Not having your prayers answered? Losing fellowship with God? Not being able to be used by God? Let’s say that Christians have to confess their sins to God, then we need to be consistent and confess every sin we commit, right? The Bible says that whatever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). Do you always walk in perfect faith? Do you ever doubt? Do you ever struggle with unbelief or fear? The answer is that not one Christian will ever walk in perfect faith because of the weakness of the flesh, therefore, according to the Bible, we are constantly falling short to walk in perfect faith and consequently we should be confessing our sin to God in an unbroken record, crawling through the dust, pleading for forgiveness since we’re such miserable failures who don’t measure up to Gods perfect moral standard. If it were true that you need to confess your sin, then you need to build a mobile confession booth, carry it everywhere you go, because you would need to be in unbroken confession before the Lord about your failing to walk in perfect faith. Who still thinks we need to confess every sin?
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
James 4:17 says that sin isn’t only doing things that are wrong, but it’s not doing what we know is right. Would you claim you’re loving God and others as you know you should? Are you studying the Bible as you should? Have you given faithfully money to the poor? Have you taken care of the widows, visited prisoners and such? You are constantly failing in all this. Sin is both the bad you do and the good you fail to do. By these definitions, we all sin continuously through the weakness of our flesh. Who still thinks God is asking Christians to confess their sin?
Besides the clarity the Bible gives that we don’t have to confess our sins to God, just our logic tells us that such practice cannot be a requirement to have a healthy, vibrant, intimate relationship with God. If we have to confess our sins to God, then we need to be constantly be monitoring if what we do is done in faith and if what we do is not neglecting the commandments of God and if something is not done by faith or we neglect to do good, then that is sin and we should stop and confess that we have sinned. That is just impossible, because we would never get up from being on our knees! Even if it were possible, it would put the burden of salvation on our backs and there wouldn’t be any peace, joy and rest in our relationship with God. Instead of living like sons who are freed from sin (our sin nature died with Christ), who walk in love, peace and liberty, we would be living like slaves who are still bound to sin and who are bugged down under a load of guilt, shame and condemnation, afraid of punishment and rejection when sinning.
The good news is that even when you have sinned God loves you, accepts you, answers your prayers, fellowships with you and enjoys you, because He relates to you, not based on what you do (good or bad), but based on what Jesus Christ has done on the cross for you. We are not saying to go and live in sin. Neither do we make light of sin, because it has serious consequences if somebody chooses to live in sin, but rather, we magnify the atonement of Jesus. Looking unto Christ results in experiential freedom, staring at your sin leads to bondage.
To sum up
Do Christians need to confess their sin? First of all, we cannot build a doctrine based on one verse. Unfortunately, countless doctrines have been formulated about confessing our sins to God, all based on this one verse (1 John 1:9) Secondly, neither Paul, Peter, Luke or any other New Testament writer ever wrote about the need to confess sins to maintain forgiven or to “restore” the relationship with God. If this was such an important topic, don’t you think that the Holy Spirit would have inspired a few New Testament writers to mention and explain the need to confess sin? Thirdly, if it were up to us and our confession it would mean forgiveness of sins (salvation) is not a free gift and it has to be earned and maintained through human effort. The very reason why Jesus came was to put an end to attaining righteousness through human effort. Finally, based on the two verses that talk about confessing sin, we have discovered that one does not talk about confessing sin to God, but to one another (James 5:16) and the other was not even intended for Christians, but for deceived self-righteous people (1 John 1:9). You probably realize by now that the whole idea about needing to confess your sin to God is absurd, impossible and not Biblical.
GOOD DAY, I AM INTEREST IN THE VIDEO 18 THINGS THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN NOT DO FOR YOU.
Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWWpMH-JVfU
I have a question…
What is your favorite brand coffee? You say you love strong, black coffee. I love coffee, too. I’d like to try your favorite. So far, my favorite is ‘Italian roast’… no certain brand.
It varies with times, but currenlty my favorite brand is Illy Classico – classic roast 100% arabica. We get beans of these and have an espresso machine which then grinds these beans on the spot as it makes coffee 🙂
Fascinated by your Law VS Grace discussion (YouTube “How Do You Abide In Christ So That You’ll Bear Much Fruit?!”).
I have told myself earlier in life that Abiding in Christ is all any of us could ever want (kids say “uh, yeah, Dad”), but after some difficult IT contracts, had lost my Peace of God. No existential threats, but struggling with doubts, fears, anxieties – well exactly as you describe when we start mishmashing Legal and Grace.
I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to abide in me, to make me a greater embodiment of the Holy Spirit, but the struggles have persisted.
Just today (struggling), I reminded myself of “abiding in Christ is everything”, and “bingo” there came peace, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit came as the Grace of Christ, not as a result of my efforts.
Anywho, I searched YouTube for “abiding in Christ”, and up popped your video, and By God, (yup, really By God) the first things out of your mouth were the very thoughts I had been having. Abiding in Christ is effortless, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit are “in the mail”, again without my manipulation. Must be true!
I look forward to becoming more conscious of the Legal VS Grace paradigm, so I don’t slip back in to that half-and-half mixture again, which you described perfectly (Must be true!)
God Bless
Charles
Hi Charles,
Thank you for sharing your journey and how you’ve found my teaching video on abiding in Christ. It’s funny how God brings us answers in surprisingly easy ways when we start looking for them.
Exactly, this is true: Abiding in Christ is effortless, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit are “in the mail”, again without my manipulation.
May you indeed become more and stay conscious of Mr. Grace Himself and what He has done for you! You might want to check out the course I made esp focussed on this: https://www.basrijksen.com///freedom
Alongside,
Bas
Hi,
I came across your YouTube message when I googled How to Abide in Christ last night and I have not stopped listening. I gave my life to Christ at Explo 72 in Texas in a Billy Graham Crusade at age 16 after being invited by a friend. However, I have struggle over the years at being a successful Christian. I am now 64 and live in the Kansas City, Kansas area and was not understanding why I never felt the presence of Christ, was filled with guilt and shame and could not heal the sick or raise the dead. I thought that I must have sinned too much and that Jesus was mad at me and disappointed in me. After your teaching, I feel great hope. Thank you so much. Wish you were in Kansas. Thank you, Sandi
Hi Sandi,
Thank you for sharing your story here.
Feeling great hope is a sure sign you have been listening and thinking upon Jesus Christ & His finished work. Remember, Jesus + Nothing = everything.
So once you’ll feel guilt and shame, and any other negative emotion really, that simply means you’ve allowed other messages/thoughts that are not Christ centered to enter, which then we can simply turn from and change what we focus upon (which is literally what repentance means: change of mind.
God is madly in love with you and you can never disappoint Him for He is as pleased with you as He is with His Son Jesus for His pleasure over you is not based on your works, but His 🙂
Bas
I live in Miami. I had a dream about Jesus. I was not raised Christian. I’ve been reading the Bible. I’m ready to be baptized to the right church but I haven’t found anyone who can answer my question. The Bible tells me to be careful of those who pretend to have the Holy Ghost because they tell lies (2 Peter 2:1). The Bible says the Holy Ghost will answer all our questions (John 14:26). I don’t feel anyone in Miami has the Holy Ghost because no one around here has any answers. I want to be baptized to a church and learn from a teacher who actually has the Holy Ghost and not some pretender who just wants to steal our money. I am asking churches in other states and online because I am willing to go anywhere for the church that actually knows the truth.
The Background for my question.
1 Corinthians 2:10 says the Holy Ghost searches the deep things of God but Romans 8:27 says according to God the Holy Ghost doesn’t search us God does. Revelation 2:23 present a problem with that because it says Jesus does. John 4:24 says God is a spirit and 2 Corinthians 3:17 says Jesus is a spirit. Colossians 1:25-27 says the mystery is Jesus is in us. John 14:23 confirms this because it also says God is inside us too. I don’t believe the Holy Ghost, the Father and Son are all the same person because the Son doesn’t know when he is coming only God does (Matthew 24:36). 1 Timothy 2:5 says there is just one mediator and that is Jesus and 1 John 2:1 confirms this because Jesus is the advocate. I wondered if Jesus is the Holy Ghost, it certainly makes sense but Matthew 1:18 creates a complication because he isn’t his Father. Then there is the argument whether between Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are they the same being or separate. Both the Latin Vulgate and the King James uses both (Romans 15:13 and Luke 11:13). I don’t even know what Bible to read because there are so many that say different things (Matthew 5:18-20 and Rev. 22:18-19).
Here is my question. Taking all of that into consideration, right now I don’t believe there is a Holy Ghost and I can’t accept a church that can’t explain it. Clearly, they don’t have the true Holy Ghost because their Holy Ghost isn’t telling them anything. Can you explain to me the Holy Ghost or is the Holy Ghost Jesus and God working together? Jesus wouldn’t leave us without an answer to the most important question would he? Does Daniel 12:4 have the answer and we are just waiting for the female prophet to reveal it (Ezekiel 33:33)? Obviously, the Bible isn’t finished yet – (Revelation 10:7). I’m tired of waiting for the Bride to come and so she can tell us the answer (Isaiah 51:1, Matthew 12:42)?
Do you know the answer? I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Amelia Rose
Hi Amelia,
Here is a video message I created to answer your questions:
http://youtu.be/F4_OcIM7reQ?hd=1
In His embrace,
Bas
Hello Bas
I found your videos on youtube today. Watching them made me feel hopeful. Your videos are different from others I have been watching.
I have been watching sermons by John MacArthur on his youtube channel “Grace to You”. In one of his videos, John MacArthur says “Does God heal? He can if he wants…But is there a gift of healing? No. That was apostolic…” That killed a lot of hope in me – unless I’m misunderstanding what he says. He says this at the end of this video:
“God’s Purpose for Miracles (Acts 3:1–11)” https://youtu.be/5CkRgP-ikUk
I pray for many things, but I’m not aware of any answers… yet.
Would you write some comments on what John MacArthur said above?
Thanks
Winston
Hello Winston,
Great to hear my teachings make you feel hopeful…sounds like you’ve been listening to the Gospel!
I rather don’t comment on religious stuff like that, I rather point you to this healing resource to make you feel more hopeful and go out and do the works of Jesus and greater: https://www.basrijksen.com//healing-resources/
Thanks,
Bas
Hi Bas,
I just watched your video regarding the Sabbath Day and really appreciated the balanced perspective on physical rest coupled with our rest in Christ. I don’t know that I have ever heard a better explanation of this. Thank you for your ministry. I know that I will be reading much more on this site. May God bless you and Michelle, along with your family, as you serve Him–the King of Kings and Lord of the Sabbath!
Thank you for your kind words and feedback Otto.
You are welcome.
Bas
Hello Brother Bas,I am subscribed to your youtube channel and i watched all your videos,they are a tremendous blessing,when do you come back makind those videos Brother?With my best regards,Rafael Almeida
Hi Rafael, glad to hear you like my teaching videos… I got good news for you.. shortly I will be back with more content etc… stay tuned and you’ll be notified 🙂