01-21-26 grace of confession 6

High-Detail Theological Outline — Strict Chronological Flow

Opening Greeting, Context, and Session Focus

Greeting and context

“Good evening. How's everyone doing?”

Identification: Study number 6 in the series on the grace of confession.

Focus: What we do before starting — rebound (to ensure the filling of the Spirit).

Invocation of rebound before teaching

Procedure: Moment of silent prayer for confession of known sins to God.

Purpose: Restore the filling of the Holy Spirit and fellowship with God to take in Bible doctrine under the Spirit’s teaching.

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Quote: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Doctrinal points:

Confession restores the filling of the Spirit.

Restoration is instantaneous; fellowship with God is resumed.

The Holy Spirit functions as Teacher and Guide for intake of doctrine.

Application: Entering class with turmoil

Personal note: Teacher mentions experiencing turmoil before arriving.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Quote: “Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Application:

Use this verse to cast anxieties, problems, and weights upon the Lord.

Practical pre-teaching action: Deal with mental burdens via faith and prayer.

Opening prayer

Thanksgiving: For the day, opportunities to serve and glorify God.

Petitions:

Productive time around the Word.

The Holy Spirit to open hearts, enable growth, and execution of God’s plan.

Guidance and direction through the Word.

Power to speak with biblical authority and with grace.

Conclusion: In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Teacher’s study background and sources

Personal process:

Much teaching birthed from personal utilization of studied doctrine.

Regular study rhythm: 20+ hours per week (varies by week).

Attribution:

Pastor-teacher: Pastor Bob McLaughlin (primary mentor/pastor).

Framing: Integrating problem-solving devices with rebound

Reminder: “Checkup from the neck up” (continuous mental evaluation).

Observations:

The first five problem-solving devices relate closely to rebound.

Clarification: Rebound and recovery are different.

Rebound: Instantaneous restoration of fellowship.

Recovery: Addressing accumulated “garbage,” scarring, and damage from sin patterns; renewing the mind.

Case Distinctions in Confession and Post-Confession Strategy

Quick-confession scenarios

Example: A fleeting sinful thought; immediate confession; rapid restoration.

Complex scenarios

Example: Conflict with a loved one involving anger and bitterness.

Emotional nuance:

Sometimes we feel bad about sin; sometimes we do not.

Principle: How we feel about sin is inconsequential to God.

Confession priority:

Recognize the sin (primary reason to learn about sin is recognition, not to attain sinless perfection).

Confess the recognized sin (even if underlying causes exist).

Example confession: “Father, I confess the sin of bitterness and anger.”

Result: Back in fellowship under the filling of the Spirit.

No requirement for emotional displays (“Oh God, I am so sorry…”).

Exclusion: No room for guilt or condemnation post-confession.

Post-confession testing: Guilt and condemnation attacks

Phenomenon: After proper confession, later guilt or condemnation can arise when recalling the event.

Strategy: Employ problem-solving devices immediately to resist post-confession guilt.

Problem-solving devices listed and defined

Faith-Rest Drill (Faith-Rest Life)

Function: Stabilizes the soul by trusting God’s character and promises.

Lifestyle: Must become a way of life, not an occasional technique.

Grace Orientation

Function: Prevents self-induced failures by aligning thinking to God’s grace.

Challenge: Often hardest to apply grace to oneself; necessary to resist self-condemnation.

Doctrinal Orientation

Function: Renews the mind, restores momentum; part of the recovery process.

Summary statement (pre-written by teacher before class):

“Rebound restores fellowship; filling of the Holy Spirit now provides divine power.

Faith rest drill stabilizes the soul, grace orientation prevents self induced failure,

and doctrinal orientation renews your mind and restores momentum.”

Simultaneity and chaining of doctrinal mechanics

Analogy: “Chain wrestling”

Learn sequences, setups, counters, and counters-to-counters.

Application: Multiple devices may operate simultaneously in response to layered challenges.

Battle reality:

Larger issues may require rebound + faith-rest + grace orientation + doctrinal orientation in tandem.

Historical reflection: King David

Sins: Murder and adultery.

Confession: “I have sinned against You, God.”

Temptation after confession:

Potential to lapse into prolonged guilt and condemnation.

Strategic warning: Trick of the devil — kingdom of darkness seeks to drag believers back into guilt.

Application: Stay strong; apply grace orientation to resist self-condemnation.

Grace orientation and self-forgiveness

Problem: People often extend grace to others more easily than to themselves.

Danger: Self-condemnation keeps believers out of fellowship.

Correction:

Orient to God’s grace; accept His forgiveness; move forward without guilt.

Doctrinal orientation and “checkup from the neck up”

Focus: Constant evaluation of thinking after confession.

Warning:

Even after proper confession, later waves of self-pity can arise (“How could I have done that?”).

Self-pity and prolonged guilt constitute sin and hinder fellowship.

Strategy:

Recognize enemy tactics: Kingdom of darkness uses the old sin nature.

Categories of sin:

Overt sins.

Mental attitude sins (e.g., bitterness, envy, self-pity).

Sins from pride and arrogance.

Keep performing the mental checkup: Guard thoughts, re-align to grace and doctrine.

Personal pastoral application (without details)

Position: Utilizes personal situations to model doctrinal application.

Confession protocol:

Confess to God; our sin is ultimately “against God and God only.”

Learning the process:

When feeling justified (“This person deserved this”), employ the checkup from the neck up.

Move through doctrinal orientation to correct thinking:

Acknowledge wrong: “I was wrong… first class jerk.”

Identify underlying root: Pride/unbelief (not trusting God for a situation) leading to taking it out on someone else.

Post-recovery mental state management

After regaining calm and corrected thinking:

Resist the urge to slide into condemnation: “What a bad person I am.”

Affirmation:

“I’ve confessed it to God; I’m back in fellowship; I’ve been forgiven.”

Trust God’s Word; exclude guilt and condemnation.

Priority: Make it right with God; that is what matters most.

Forward momentum and resilience

Principle: Keep moving forward — day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

Warning:

Many get sidelined by “one little thing.”

Do not permit minor or major failures to derail spiritual momentum after proper confession.

Concluding emphasis for this flow segment

Rebound ensures filling of the Spirit and fellowship.

Immediately stand in divine power for intake and application of doctrine.

Expect post-confession attacks; counter with:

Faith-Rest (stabilizes).

Grace Orientation (blocks self-induced failure; especially self-condemnation).

Doctrinal Orientation (renews the mind; restores momentum).

Maintain the checkup from the neck up continually.

Move forward in God’s plan without guilt or condemnation.

Opening Observations on Trials, Attacks, and Self-Induced Misery; Transition to Colossians 2:13

Statement: “They’re done.”

Conversation reference: Told David before the service about common pastoral encounters where people attribute problems to the devil.

Doctrinal assertion:

Often it is not the devil; many problems are self-induced misery.

Personal testimony: “I can be the worst enemy I ever have, even worse than the devil.”

Observation: “The devil leaves most people alone… we probably ruin ourselves.”

Pastoral principle:

When facing trial and tribulation, ask: Is it divine discipline? If not, it may be a test or a satanic attack.

Key emphasis: Do not over-evaluate causation because the response remains the same.

Use problem-solving devices regardless of origin (test/attack/pressure).

If proper problem-solving devices are utilized, God is glorified in either case.

Warning against tunnel vision; encouragement to proceed.

Scripture: Colossians 2:13

Quote: “And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings.”

Exegetical notes:

“Dead” refers to spiritual death.

“Transgressions” are known sins.

“Uncircumcision of the flesh” is the old sin nature (OSN).

“He made you alive together with Him” refers to our positional status in Christ.

Central theological question (introduced for the series):

If our sins have been forgiven positionally at salvation, why must we confess them to receive forgiveness experientially?

Upcoming doctrinal refutation preview:

Teacher’s philosophy: Minimal time on false doctrine; focus on teaching truth.

Research note: Conducted significant research on MLK Day concerning “hyper grace.”

Plan: Address “hyper grace” movement’s claim that confession is unnecessary at the end of the series; possibly provide a handout.

Pastoral reflection:

Confession and restoration of fellowship are essential.

Without confession, many verses would be incomprehensible (no concept of falling out of fellowship and recovering).

Personal process: Recognizing sin and employing a God-ordained way to restore fellowship.

Warning:

Avoid cavalier attitude: “God forgave me a long time ago… oh well.”

Satanic strategy: Promote neglect of confession and fellowship; oppose filling of the Spirit.

Main Verse and Mechanics of Recovery; Romans 12:2; Greek Analysis of 1 John 1:9

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Quote: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous (just) so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Key doctrinal emphasis:

Mechanics of recovery from sin and from influence of Satan’s cosmic system.

Distinction clarified:

Rebound: Recovering the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Recovery: Regaining divine viewpoint; aligning thinking with God’s viewpoint.

Repentance (metanoia): Change of mind in the recovery process.

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Quote: “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Notes:

Present tense: Ongoing, continuous process; not a one-time event.

Application:

Even with much doctrine, aberrant thoughts can arise; the issue is not “how” they arose but whether thinking is divine or human viewpoint.

“Checkup from the neck up”: Evaluate current thinking; if not divine viewpoint, intentionally fill the mind with divine viewpoint.

The more doctrine in the soul, the easier and quicker the recovery and isolation of the underlying issue.

Often the root is arrogance: Elevating self above God and His Word; leads to the arrogance complex of sins.

Greek analysis: 1 John 1:9

Conditionality:

“If we confess” is a third-class condition (Greek).

Subjunctive mood expresses potential, not certainty: “Maybe we will, maybe we won’t.”

Note: Both “forgive” and “cleanse” are also in the subjunctive mood, indicating potential action contingent upon confession.

Lexical note:

Verb: ὁμολογέω (homologeo) — to confess; present active subjunctive (as taught): to name, cite, admit, or acknowledge.

Theological assertions:

Non-meritorious:

The believer earns no merit by confession; parallels salvation by grace through faith (a non-meritorious system of perception).

It is blasphemous to add anything to the simple act of homologeo, just as it is blasphemous to add to salvation.

Basis for forgiveness:

Phrase: “He is faithful” — God’s faithfulness, not ours, is the reason forgiveness is granted upon confession.

Refutation of legalism: Forgiveness is not based on our sincerity, promises, or feelings.

Emotions are inconsequential to forgiveness mechanics; God holds us accountable for following His directions (confess), not for “feeling sorry.”

Assertion:

Most believers today do not confess their sins; therefore, they are not filled with the Holy Spirit.

Grace Foundations and Imputations; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Attempted 1 Peter/2 Peter Reference; Correction to 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:10–12; Colossians 2:6; Ephesians 2:8–9

Salvation by grace through faith

Non-meritorious system of perception emphasized.

Review: Three imputations

At birth:

Adam’s original sin imputed to us (not our personal sins).

Result: Universal condemnation by God’s grace to level the playing field; no one is better/worse.

Implication: Universal qualification for salvation—condemned for what we did not do, saved by what we did not accomplish.

At the cross:

Personal sins of the entire world (believers and unbelievers) imputed to Jesus Christ.

In salvation:

God’s righteousness imputed to believers.

Eschatological note:

Afterlife judgment focus (for unbeliever and believer): relation to Christ/righteousness, not “sin” per se.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Quote: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Doctrinal emphasis:

Substitutionary atonement.

Imputed righteousness.

Pastoral counsel (early post-salvation priority):

Learn the character and nature of God.

Learn positional truths: Who you are in Christ.

Master salvation doctrines to shield against doctrinal and practical error.

Attempted reference to 1 Peter/2 Peter

Navigation:

“First Peter 2:4” mentioned but recognized as incorrect for the intended verse.

Attempt: “Second Peter 2:4” stated as in notes; no exegesis given at that moment.

Opening remarks and personal note on scripture references

Apology for delay in locating the passage.

Not expert at memorizing references, though able to quote scripture/doctrine; references can get jumbled.

Emphasis: Many verses and doctrines internalized, but exact locations sometimes mixed.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:24 (correction to intended text)

Quote: “And He Himself, Jesus Christ, bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that you might die to sin and live to righteousness. For by His wounds you were healed.”

Doctrinal points:

Substitutionary atonement: Jesus bore our sins in His body.

Purpose: “die to sin and live to righteousness” — sanctification follows the accomplished atonement.

Healing in context: Spiritual healing from sin’s penalty and power.

Scripture: Hebrews 9:28

Quote: “So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin to those who eagerly await Him.”

Doctrinal points:

“Offered once” — singular, completed sacrifice (non-repeatable).

Extent: “Bear the sins of many.”

Second Advent: “without reference to sin” — His second coming brings salvation (deliverance/glorification) to eager believers.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:10–12

v.10: “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ — once for all.”

v.11: “Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices which can never take away sins.”

v.12: “But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.”

Doctrinal points:

Contrast: Levitical continual sacrifices vs. Christ’s single efficacious sacrifice.

Once-for-all sanctification: Believer’s sanctification grounded in Christ’s definitive offering.

Session of Christ: Sitting at the right hand signals finished work and authority.

Application: Eternal security implications — “once for all” means personal sins (past, present, future) have already been paid for.

Exhortation: Move forward based on this completed work.

Scripture: Colossians 2:6

Importance: Brings together salvation and the predesigned plan of God for our lives.

Quote/Paraphrase: “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus…”

Connection:

Received Him by faith, through grace.

Anticipation of Ephesians 2:8–9.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8–9

Quote: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Grammatical/theological note:

“And that not of yourselves” described as neuter gender referring to the whole preceding clause (grace, salvation, faith as encompassed in “that”).

Doctrinal point: Even faith is presented as gift in the salvation complex; will return to this later.

Definition:

Faith: Non-meritorious system of perception.

Application:

“So walk in Him” (back to Colossians 2:6) — the same way you received Christ (by grace through faith), you walk.

Not based on feelings or personal faithfulness.

Principle:

The justice of God can never forgive based on human merit.

1 John 1:9 — Grammatical Analysis of “He is Faithful and Just”; Faith as Non-Meritorious; Chair Analogy; Subjunctive Warning; Stoicheō; Titus 2:11; John 1:12; A Fortiori

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Quote: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Greek parsing:

“He is” — present active indicative of εἰμί (eimi): God keeps on being faithful; absolute status quo.

Attributes highlighted:

Immutability: God does not change; His faithfulness is constant.

Integrity satisfied: God’s righteousness and justice have already been satisfied by Christ’s work.

Faithfulness based on His character, not ours.

Clarification:

“The adjective ‘faithful’ is from the word pistis.”

Word study:

“Faithful” — linked to πίστις (pistis; faith). God’s perfect consistency in forgiveness to every believer who names/cites/admits/acknowledges sin.

Non-merit emphasis:

Merit for forgiveness belongs to the Lord, never the believer.

Faith as non-meritorious; object carries the merit

Epistemology contrast:

God did not choose empiricism or rationalism (human advantage — experience or intelligence).

God chose faith — accessible to all; non-meritorious.

Illustration: The chair analogy

Sitting in a chair without deliberation demonstrates faith.

The merit is in the chair (object), not the amount of faith.

If the chair is flawed, you fall — proves the merit is in the object.

Application:

Salvation: The merit is in the object (Christ), not the amount of faith we exert.

Confession: Non-meritorious — simply name/acknowledge to God: “Yes, I did this.”

Warning against adding to God’s method; subjunctive mood in 1 John 1:9

Greek mood note:

Verbs “forgive” and “cleanse” in 1 John 1:9 are in the subjunctive mood — potentiality dependent on condition.

Condition and corruption:

If you add human works to the divine instructions, the outcome is not guaranteed.

Examples of adding works:

Feeling guilty as a condition.

Promising not to sin.

Making vows.

Result: Fellowship will not be restored; you have added to the non-meritorious system.

Soteriological parallel:

Salvation errors:

“Believe and be baptized,” “believe and raise my hand,” “believe and cry at the altar,” “believe and repent of all sins.”

God accepts simple belief alone.

Confession parallel: God will not accept added human “shenanigans.”

Terminology:

στοιχέω (stoicheō) — “follow after someone from the ranks”; emphasis on accuracy and preciseness in procedure according to divine outline.

Scripture: Titus 2:11 — Common Grace analogy

Quote: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.”

Doctrinal point: Common grace — salvation offered to all.

Universality:

All people have the ability/opportunity to be saved.

Evangelistic assertion:

God promises everyone will have the opportunity to hear and understand the gospel.

Volitional responsibility: Hell is by one’s own volition.

Illustration/anecdote (altar call days):

Sobering thought: Worst part of hell is the eternal knowledge that “on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a time” you had the opportunity and refused.

Scripture: John 1:12 — Efficacious Grace

Connection to Ephesians 2:8–9:

Teaching: Even the faith needed for salvation was a gift; our natural faith was insufficient — the Holy Spirit made our faith effective (efficacious).

Quote: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

Word study:

“Right” — ἐξουσία (exousia): authority, power; the ability to do something.

Process described:

Common grace: Hearing the gospel.

Positive volition: Responding with initial faith.

Efficacious operation: The Holy Spirit makes their faith effective and grants exousia — authority/power to become children of God.

Principle:

God gives power to faith when it operates alone, trusting only God.

If you add works (walking an aisle, baptism, repenting of sins, asking Jesus into your heart) to faith for salvation, the Holy Spirit will not make faith effectual.

A fortiori argument:

If God will not make faith-plus-works effective for salvation (the greater), how much more will He not make confession-plus-works effective for post-salvation forgiveness (the lesser).

Ephesians 2:8–9 — noted as already covered; not expounded again here.

Post-Salvation Faith-Operation Parallel; Procedure and Precision; Practical Consequences; Key Terms in 1 John 1:9; Integrity Structure; Propitiation Typology

Post-salvation faith-operation parallel

For the believer on earth: Same system — faith looking to the cross and God’s Word.

Courtroom analogy:

Action for salvation: Believe in God’s Son.

Action for forgiveness: Believe God’s Word and ὁμολογέω — name/cite/admit.

Emphasis: Very simple and very powerful.

Procedure and precision:

The right thing done the right way.

Not nitpicking, but honoring divine procedures accurately and precisely.

Many have departed from the principle of confession; precise instructions are in Scripture for a reason.

Practical consequences of neglecting divine procedure

Without doing things God’s way:

Lack of results; frequent divine discipline.

No filling of the Spirit; perpetual problems.

Tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Exhortation:

“Stop being children” — grow up.

Learn procedure and practice for everything in the predesigned plan of God.

Commit to doing things God’s way; expect great results.

Key terms in 1 John 1:9

“Faithful” — God’s perfect consistency in providing forgiveness to every believer who acknowledges names/cites sins.

“Dikaios” (δικαῖος) — translated “righteous” or “just”

Preferred term: “Just.”

Meaning: Righteous, upright; divine integrity as source for forgiveness and restoration of fellowship.

Integrity structure (attributions)

Righteousness and justice are two sides of God’s integrity.

Righteousness: God’s holiness; perfect standard demanding perfection.

Justice: The function that executes what righteousness demands.

Teaching line (attributed): “What the righteousness of God demands, the justice of God must execute.”

Referenced: Pastor Thieme (“Pastor Deem”) and Pastor Robert McLaughlin (“Pastor Bob”).

Propitiation typology (ark imagery)

Two cherubs (justice and righteousness) looking down at the blood on the mercy seat — powerful typology.

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God is satisfied.

Role of God’s Integrity in Forgiveness; Colossians 2:13 Grammar; David and Nathan; No Human Payback

God forgives based on His character, not emotion

Not because He loves you (though He does) or because you are sincere.

God’s love formulated the plan; His integrity executes and maintains it.

Dikaios (δικαῖος) defined:

Just; acting according to perfect justice.

Righteousness is the basis; justice is the function.

“Just” emphasizes God’s justice in forgiving sins.

Confession:

Aligns us with the justice of God already satisfied at the cross.

Scripture: Colossians 2:13 — aorist participles and order of operations

Quote/Paraphrase: “When you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings.”

Greek grammar:

Aorist participles precede the action of the main verb.

Main verb: “He made you alive.”

Participial clause: “Having forgiven us all our wrongdoings” — forgiveness precedes being made alive.

Doctrinal point:

Total forgiveness precedes regeneration/vivification.

Application:

Guilt and condemnation are major impediments to the plan of God.

Lack of faith in identity and Christ’s finished work keeps believers trapped.

When consumed by guilt/condemnation, you’re implicitly saying Christ’s work is “not good enough.”

Illustration: David and Nathan (2 Samuel 12 narrative referenced)

Summary:

Nathan’s parable of the man with the little lamb.

David’s indignation; Nathan’s rebuke: “You are that man.”

Application:

David felt terrible but did not indulge in prolonged guilt.

He confessed, restored fellowship, and moved on.

Principle: Confess and continue forward; do not remain in a pity-party.

Divine forgiveness grounded in integrity, not human payback

God forgives because He is faithful and consistent; His integrity is already satisfied.

God is not looking for us to “make it up to Him.”

Attempting to “make it up” often springs from arrogance.

God knows motives; cannot be fooled.

Best practice:

Stay the course: follow God’s instructions.

Divine promise: “If you confess your sins, I am faithful to forgive you. I am the righteous one in forgiving you.”

Reiteration:

“Dikaios” (just) as source of forgiveness.

The cross is the basis for all forgiveness.

Why Must We Confess? Volition; Definition of Confess; Precedent; Opening Assertions on Volition and Divine Non-Coercion

Why confess?

Free will in the angelic conflict: Believers must make volitional decisions and statements.

Definition: ὁμολογέω — name, cite, acknowledge.

Volitional testimony by confessing:

“Yes, I do not want to be in the cosmic system.”

“Yes, I want to be in the plan of God.”

“No, I do not want to quench and grieve the Holy Spirit.”

“Yes, I want to be filled with the Spirit.”

Distinction:

To be saved: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

To be restored/forgiven: Confess your sin.

Non-merit:

No merit in confession, but you must use volition.

Anticipated question:

If all sins are forgiven, why confess?

First: Because the Bible says it.

Second: Precedent even before NT — David practiced confession; he knew it by revelation from God.

Opening assertions on volition and divine non-coercion

God does not force Himself on anyone.

Even for Christians, God will not force:

Being filled with the Spirit.

Participation in the plan of God.

Human volition: We can choose to be “losers” spiritually (exhortation: do not choose this).

If we do not want spiritual loss and want to be in God’s plan, we must do it God’s way.

Core Directive: Confession as Volitional Restoration; Tone Commitment; Definition; Matthew 7:11; Matthew 7:7; Integrity/Atonement Block; Feelings vs Protocol; Reconciling Forgiveness and Confession; Protocol Clarification; Desire for Fellowship; Matthew 18:21–22; Luke 17:4

Core directive:

“God is saying you have to confess it; you have to confess your sins.”

God will not make you confess; He respects your volition.

Preview of controversy:

Some doctrinal ministers (not cults) have split and rejected the doctrine of confession.

Teacher expresses amazement; personal note: God worked in teacher’s life unexpectedly in this area; another pointed it out; positive reflections forthcoming.

Tone commitment:

Everything said in grace and love.

No bashing or mocking of other believers or positions (e.g., hyper-Calvinism; non-confession advocates).

Warning against disparagement:

Example: mocking Pentecostals as “Holy Roller crowd” inappropriate.

Doctrine: Tongues not for today; “slain in the spirit” rejected.

Pastoral caution: do not make fun of people; they may lack sound teaching.

Personal prayer aim: speak with authority and grace.

Definition and function of confession

Confession asks God to do all the work:

Take you out of the cosmic system.

Place you back in His plan.

Allow the Holy Spirit to control you again.

Confession is direct address to God; a form of prayer.

Scripture: Matthew 7:11

Quote: “If you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”

Doctrinal point:

Human parents, though flawed, give good gifts; how much more the perfect heavenly Father to those who ask.

Connection: Confession, as direct address, fits within the asking motif.

Scripture: Matthew 7:7

Quote: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.”

Development:

Asking aligns volition with God’s will.

God given free will; will not override it.

God acts when we desire Him to (volitional trigger).

Non-meritorious principle:

Volitional decisions in God’s plan are always non-meritorious.

Anyone can ask, believe, confess.

Warning:

When a system begins to require merit from humans, the kingdom of darkness has influenced it.

In God’s plan, God always gets the credit.

Theological block on divine integrity and atonement

Efficacy of Christ’s atonement:

Under categories: pistis (faithful), dikaios (righteous/just).

God’s integrity (justice and righteousness) is the source of His forgiveness, not His love.

Explanation: At the cross, the Father judged the Son for our sins; divine integrity was satisfied.

God’s integrity allows human free will to make both negative and positive decisions.

Human free will must line up with the sovereign will of God.

Pacing emphasis: Slow down to ensure internalization.

Key doctrinal assertion:

Confession alone required emphasizes efficacy of Christ’s substitutionary atonement.

The work of Christ so perfect that the Father cannot require anything meritorious concerning your sin.

Saying “confessing sin is too easy” attacks the efficacy and completeness of Christ’s work on the cross.

God requires only confession to glorify His Son and magnify His plan.

Regardless of magnitude of sin: God is faithful, just, dependable.

Pastoral application: feelings vs. divine protocol

When you name and cite a sin to God — even if not sorry for a mental attitude sin against someone:

Your feelings are inconsequential to God’s forgiveness.

God does not forgive based on sorrow or feelings.

He forgives because you followed His directions; His work, not your feelings, matters.

Reconciling forgiveness and confession

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:34

Quote: “They will not teach again each one his neighbor… For I will forgive their wrongdoings and their sin, I will no longer remember.”

Scripture: Hebrews 8:12

Quote: “For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, and their sins I will no longer remember.”

Note: God is omniscient; “remember no more” is not a denial of omniscience.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:17

Quote: “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.”

Reconciliation:

“Remembering no more” describes God’s positional attitude based on the accomplished fact of the cross.

Confession is how, by free will, you re-enter fellowship experientially.

You must make a free will decision to disagree with your sin and ask God to restore you—by following His directions.

Protocol clarification: confession vs. generic request

Do not substitute: “God, please forgive me.”

Divinely mandated process is confession (name and cite).

Outcome is forgiveness, obtained God’s way.

Confession entails:

Agreement with God about the sin.

Looking back to the cross—the courtroom case is decided; decrees removed.

God “remembers sin no more” positionally; you use volition to re-enter fellowship.

Ultimate volitional statement: “I want to be in fellowship with You; I want to be in Your plan.”

Desire for fellowship within the predestined plan

Affirmation: “I want to be in the predestined plan of God.”

Brief check of sequence; continue flow.

Scripture: Matthew 18:21–22 (forgiveness)

Quote:

Peter: “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus: “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.”

Doctrinal point:

The Lord’s standard of repeated forgiveness reflects God’s own forgiveness model; supports continual restoration posture.

Scripture: Luke 17:4

Quote: “If he sins against you seven times a day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Doctrinal point:

Repeated repentance warrants repeated forgiveness.

Analogy to confession: As believers repeatedly confess, God repeatedly forgives, consistent with His integrity and established protocol.

Mechanics of Divine Forgiveness — 1 John 1:9; Cross and Integrity; Discipline vs Judgment; Romans 11:5–6; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:17; Hina Result Clause; Aphiemi; Hamartiai; Sins of Ignorance; Katharizō; Certainty and Guilt; Discipline/Suffering; Instructions; Series Continuation; Upcoming Refutation; Spiritual Warfare and Confession; Interjection (Joel); Closing Prayer; Post-prayer Comment

Setup remarks

“I just got a little bit behind here. Hold on one second. Bless you.”

Logistics: “Anybody have the slides? … we’re at 42 of 55 … we’ve got much more to go.”

Expectation: “I may not finish all of this tonight because we can easily just go right into the next thing.”

Text introduction: 1 John 1:9

Reference: “First John one nine again—the mechanics of divine forgiveness.”

Mention: “We confess our sins, no one else’s.”

Attribution of credit: “God gets credit; He is faithful.”

The cross and the integrity of God

Doctrinal assertion: “The cross prevents compromise of God’s character.”

Because of the cross, God’s character is not compromised by forgiving our sins.

Necessity/certainty:

“God cannot refuse to forgive when we name and cite our sins.”

Exception: “The only time God doesn’t have to forgive you is if you add something to your confession” (avoid human works, guilt rituals, penance, or merit-based adjuncts).

Judicial framing:

“God’s character and nature have already brought your sin to court, found your sin to be guilty, and judged your sin. Therefore He cannot judge it again.”

Strong statement: “It is impossible for God to ever judge any member of the human race for their personal sins post salvation.”

Clarification: Divine discipline still occurs; distinct from punitive judgment for personal sins.

Divine discipline versus judgment

Distinction:

“He will discipline … but discipline is not for sin; it is an act of love to restore you to fellowship, like any good parent would do.”

Pastoral note:

True regardless of feelings.

Scripture: Romans 11:5–6

Quote elements:

“At the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.”

Doctrinal synthesis:

“Every sin in human history was judged at the cross. This is the basis for confession by grace.”

“Grace ceases to be grace whenever mankind adds any works to the plan of God.”

“Confession and forgiveness by grace require absolutely nothing from mankind.”

Scripture: Hebrews 9:14 and Hebrews 10:17

Hebrews 9:14 quote:

“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Hebrews 10:17 quote:

“And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.”

Doctrinal points:

Restoration back into fellowship is a blessing.

All blessing comes from the justice of God, not merely from His love.

No system of works can ever intrude upon God’s justice.

Restoration is a privilege because it comes from God’s justice with Him doing all the work.

Return to 1 John 1:9 and grammar: ἵνα (hina)

Statement:

“The word ‘to’ there is hina.”

Grammar:

Introduces a result clause.

Translation sense:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just with the result that He does something” — forgiveness and cleansing proceed as the divinely determined result of confession based on God’s faithfulness and justice.

Greek verb study: ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) — “forgive”

Morphology:

Subjunctive mood.

Active aorist subjunctive.

Constative aorist tense — various points in time throughout a believer’s life when confession occurs.

Active voice — God the Father produces the action: “He forgives you.”

Subjunctive: Forgiveness is potential based on condition (no added human works).

Semantic range:

To cancel, pardon, forgive, remove guilt, remove from the penalty (discipline-discussion reserved).

Greek noun study: ἁμαρτίαι (hamartiai) — “sins”

Scope:

Personal sins — mental, verbal, and overt. These are known sins.

Pastoral question: Sins of ignorance

Issue:

“What about the sins that we are not aware of, the sins of ignorance?”

“Some people get really bogged down with this … What if we remember something later?”

Counsel:

“Don’t go backwards. When you’ve confessed a sin, you are back in fellowship.”

As you grow and learn more, you might realize past actions were sin — do not live going backwards; start where you are.

Practical:

You sin; you fall short; name it; cite it; move on in the plan of God.

Pauline support (conceptual paraphrase):

“Forgetting those things that are behind me, I press on toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Unaware sins and volition

Doctrinal assertion:

“Ignorance is no excuse; committing a sin you didn’t know was a sin does not stop the effects.”

“These sins need to be cleansed as well because they come from our soul’s volition.”

“Every sin was willful in the sense of chosen action—no one was twisting your arm.”

Accountability: “You are held accountable and guilty by the justice of God.”

Gospel comfort: “But the beauty is that sins have already been paid for.”

Greek verb study: καθαρίζω (katharizō) — “cleanse”

Morphology:

Active aorist subjunctive — potentiality (“maybe yes, maybe no”).

Meaning: To cleanse, purify from defilement of sin, free from guilt.

Spiritual psychology:

“When we reside in the cosmic system for a long time (not just pop in and out), something happens to the soul that requires cleansing.”

“He cleanses our conscience and our soul.”

Subjunctive implication: Potential based on whether we add anything to God’s plan.

Certainty of forgiveness and cleansing (without added works)

Assurance:

“There never was a believer who named a known sin to God privately without any system of works, power, or gimmicks who has not been immediately forgiven and cleansed by God—or God would be a liar.”

Faith exhortation:

Believe what the Word says or none of it will work.

God’s ways higher — our instinct would be to refuse forgiveness; we must trust God.

Faith-rest life: Christian walk is trusting God for this.

Guilt/condemnation admonition:

Hypothetical: “‘Jim, that was a horrible thing I did.’”

Response: “God has forgiven you. You have to believe that God has forgiven you.”

If carrying guilt now: “You’re going to also have to confess that as well.”

Theological caution:

“You can’t add to it. When you’re guilty about it, you’re saying in effect it wasn’t good enough what Christ did.”

“You may not intend it, but you’re saying, ‘I don’t trust that what Christ did was good enough; I have to add something to it.’”

Discipline and suffering post-confession

Clarification:

Prolonged residence in cosmic system picks up discipline.

Immediate forgiveness does not necessarily remove the discipline; sovereignty of God determines.

Encouragement:

Once back in fellowship and in the predesigned plan of God, whatever suffering you undergo—even remnants of divine discipline—is now suffering for blessing.

Consequences:

“The bad decisions you make do not just go away.”

Future teaching: “We’re going to talk extensively about that when we get to sowing and reaping.”

Summary:

Whether discipline is removed depends on God’s sovereignty.

Suffering turned into blessing once back in fellowship.

Prerequisite for God’s plan: following instructions

Principle:

“The potential for being cleansed depends on one thing: whether or not we follow instructions.”

Theocentric perspective:

“This is exciting; it makes so little of mankind and brings all the glory to God. Everything depends upon God.”

Practical prerequisite:

“We have to know what the instructions are.”

Warning:

“If you don’t take the time to learn the instructions, the plan of God is absolutely meaningless and useless in your life.”

Series continuation and schedule

Plan:

“We’re going to continue on next week with this.”

Transition to prayer and Q&A:

“We’re going to take a moment of prayer… then questions or comments or criticisms… I am always open.”

Personal attribution:

“I always wait for David; he never criticizes, but I always listen because he’s my mentor.”

Preview of upcoming content

Cleansing emphasis:

“Next week, we’re going to get more into the cleansing part.”

Series length expectation:

“Either next week or the week after—probably the week after—will be the conclusion of this series.”

“Hoping I wasn’t going to go to ten, but it’s going to end up being probably eight lessons.”

Anticipated topic: addressing claims that confession is no longer necessary

Motive-charity:

“Some of this came from right motives… people are not thinking right, though they think they are.”

Observation:

“Some were looking at 1 John 1:9 and confession … perhaps because of how people were doing it—it’s taking away from Christ on the cross and it’s adding works.”

Movement influenced by similarity to Roman Catholicism (confessing to priests).

Caution:

Devil infinitely smarter than you; can twist things subtly; maintain humility; depend on God to reveal truth.

Centrality of confession:

“Confession is a central part of the Christian walk. It has to be done.”

Spiritual warfare rationale:

Devil cannot undo salvation; seeks to keep believers from being filled with the Spirit to get them out of the plan of God.

Devil is not omniscient; likely thinks he still will win in the angelic conflict.

Strategy:

If he can get people to no longer be filled with the Spirit, anything they do—even “good”—is not done in the filling of the Spirit, so it doesn’t count with God. He gets credit.

Interjection and reinforcement (Joel’s contribution)

Catechetical reference:

“We’ve been learning about the forty things that you receive at salvation.”

Highlighted item:

“Availability of divine power — a supernatural power for us to walk in God’s plan.”

Condition:

“When we are in fellowship, we can have that power.”

“Once we grieve or quench the Spirit, that power no longer exists.”

Application:

“That’s another reason why it’s so important to confess your sin so you can walk in that power that is available to us in the perfect timing of God.”

Affirmation: “Amen. Yes, absolutely.”

Closing prayer

Thanksgiving:

“Father, thank you so much once again for this night and for this time that we’ve had to study these things.”

“Thank you, Father, for revealing to us the truth of your word.”

Petition for application:

“Help us, Father, to metabolize this word… utilize it and apply it to our lives and our situations.”

Intercession:

“I pray for each person here and anyone that would be listening … particularly for the people that are here.”

Guidance:

“Continue to lead them and guide them in the path that you have for their lives.”

“Give them … supernatural strength, supernatural endurance … to run this race that you have set before them.”

Comfort and blessing:

“Peace and comfort and encouragement upon everyone’s soul … surround each person here with your mercy and your grace and your love.”

“Your blessing and your favor be upon each of us according to your will.”

Conclusion:

“In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Post-prayer comments

Gratitude: “Thank you, Jim.”

Additional comment begins (trails): “I can i would look at the comment over here. I think you did a fantastic job because what I like about, like you said, so beautifully that when you test the kids, you can.” (No further content provided; session ends)