MTMattie
Active Member
Continued disobedience is a manifestation of unbelief. In regard to the 100 sheep in Luke 15, we see that Jesus is directing this parable to the Pharisees and scribes who complained, saying that Jesus receives sinners and eats with them, while failing to recognize because of pride and self-righteousness that they were sinners themselves. The main point of this parable is not that one of Jesus' sheep who He gave eternal life to lost their salvation and had to regain it back again, (which contradicts John 10:27-28) but the absolute importance of finding the one lost sheep -- there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
So, this parable does not teach that this one "sheep" in this case was a saved person who lost their salvation and had to repent and get saved all over again. That is not the point. Context is key. Luke 15:1-2 sets the scene. The religious leaders criticized Jesus for associating with these sinners. Jesus responds with three parables describing how these religious leaders should have reacted when faced with sinners who wish to repent.
Now look what Jesus said in Matthew 5:5 - These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
In Luke 19:10, we read - for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Not save those all over again who lost salvation. Jeremiah 50:6 - My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray. Doesn't mean they were saved. The Israelites are His people (chosen people of God) and His sheep physically, even the lost ones.
In regard to confessing our sins, notice that - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) is in contrast to - If we say that we have no sin, (present tense) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (past tense) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
Certain folks seem to misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we "must confess each and every sin that we commit as we commit them" (keep a specific inventory of every sin) as an "additional requirement" to "remain cleansed" and "if we forget a sin, we are toast!"
There was a televangelist who explained this way.
Once your sins are forgiven they are gone (Boy do I pray that to be so) but each and every time you sin now you should ask forgiveness for that sin because he felt someone was posting each sin under your name and when you ask for forgiveness it would be erased.
No... not saying I belive this but is a good way to remind oneself to not let them go by as if they dont matter
Who could write an exhaustive list.? IDK but the older I get I seem to remember things I had long put into the back of my brain.Who could actually write an exhaustive list of every sin they have ever committed or ever will commit? Sin is not only missing the mark by what we do but also what we fail to do. (James 4:17)
Believers "confess" (Greek - homologeó) speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins and have a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness in contrast with saying that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. (1 John 1:8-10)
In regard to Matthew 18:12-17, if a brother sins against another and continues to refuse to repent and make things right, then the Jewish community of believers is to treat this person as an outsider, as if they were a tax collector or heathen/Gentile. Jesus uses a description of this consequence, by using the examples of tax collectors and heathens/Gentiles, which shows He is talking to His group of Jewish disciples within the context of their Jewish culture. Nothing here about a loss of salvation.