The Leadership Team answers your questions.

Q1 (26:16). I confess my sins and ask God to forgive me since that is what I have been taught from the Bible. Are you saying that the Bible says confessing your sins and asking for forgiveness is wrong? I just can’t see how asking for forgiveness when I sin against God can be wrong. My relationship seems so much more vibrant when I regularly confess and ask for forgiveness.

Q2 (15:02). Can’t I John 1:9 apply to believers and non-believers? In this case it would be a way a believer would act, but would also be a requirement for a non-believer.

Q3 (18:42). It seems like we are using the term “fellowship” to refer to both the moment of salvation (Pastor Dan said this) and yet we also refer to “fellowship” as our relationship after salvation. This seems confusing to me.

Q4 (2:30). It seems like I John 1:9 is very clear, if you confess then you get forgiven, but if you don’t confess then you are not forgiven. What am I missing here? I guess I am not following the argument you are making if this is not what you are teaching. I do enjoy the challenge to think that Grace delivers in not simply “dumbingdown” these messages.

Q5 (32:05). How can I discuss this with my friend who heard what Pastor Dan was teaching and thought it was just plain wrong and would lead to people living anyway they want to?

Q6 (37:59). What is to keep a Christian from becoming hard in their heart toward God if they don’t have to confess their sins in order to restore their relationship with God? It just seems like this would lead to people living anyway they want. I know that isn’t true (based on the teaching), but seems to be the logical outcome given how weak we are in our trust of God.

Q7 (41:44). I have simply never heard this teaching before. Can you refer me to some other people who also teach this?

Q8 (defered to next graceTALK). I have heard a Christian radio talk show host say that there is no substantial biblical evidence for church membership and as such is not a member of a church; though he regularly attends, gives, etc. This raises a couple questions in my mind. First, is it true, is church membership required? Second, if membership is required, what is the pastoral/ecclesiastic response if a mature Christian refuses to join a local church?

MP3 download.

Submit a future graceTALK question.