Surprising Answers You May Not Hear in Church!نموونە

QUESTION 3: Do You Have to Confess or Ask Forgiveness for Every Sin? What About Before Communion?

Good news! If you’ve trusted in Christ, your sins are forgiven—totally, completely, forever. There’s no need to constantly ask God to forgive every little (or big) mistake you make. Hebrews 10:14 says, “By one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” The work is done. Finished. Complete. Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said, “It is finished” on the cross (John 19:30).

Think about it this way: When Jesus died, all your sins were future sins. He didn’t miss a single one. So, rather than spending your days asking for forgiveness you already have, you can rest in the fact that Christ’s sacrifice took care of it all. As a believer, you’re a totally forgiven person—not sort of, not partially, but completely.

What About 1 John 1:9?

Ah, the classic confession verse: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Sounds like a daily sin laundry list, right? Not so fast. 1 John 1:9 isn’t aimed at believers. It’s addressing people who deny the reality of sin or the physicality of Jesus. These folks weren’t Christians at all. John is inviting them to admit their sinfulness and receive forgiveness for the first time. (If you’re in Christ, you’ve already got that forgiveness and cleansing, forever!)

In the context of 1 John, the “sin deniers” were likely early Gnostics, denying both sin and the physicality (humanity) of Christ. John’s call to confession was an invitation to salvation, not a daily chore for believers. After you’re saved, you don’t need to “activate” forgiveness with constant confessions. You’re already forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness—once and for all (Hebrews 10:14).

But What About Before Communion?

Many Christians are told to “examine themselves” before taking communion, leading to frantic mental checklists of sins. But that’s not what 1 Corinthians 11 is about. The problem in Corinth wasn’t unconfessed sin—it was disrespect. People were hoarding food, getting drunk, and neglecting the poor during the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s call to “examine oneself” was about stopping selfish behavior and showing respect for the meal, not trying to “clean up” before partaking.

Communion is meant to be a celebration, not a guilt trip. You don’t need to obsess over your sins before taking the Lord’s Supper because the whole point of communion is remembering what Jesus did—He forgave you completely. So, instead of worrying about qualifying for communion, focus on your Savior, not your sins. He qualified you forever!

Doesn’t Total Forgiveness Encourage Sinning?

Here’s the twist: The more you understand your total forgiveness, the less you’ll want to sin. People fear that teaching complete forgiveness will turn into a license to sin, but the Bible teaches the opposite. In 2 Peter 1:9, we’re told that forgetting we’re cleansed makes us unproductive in the faith, not the other way around. And Jesus Himself said that those who are forgiven much will love much (Luke 7:47). In short, total forgiveness doesn’t lead to sin—it leads to gratitude, love, and godly living.

Grace isn’t a free pass to sin more. Titus 2:11-12 says that God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and live upright lives. When you realize how forgiven you are, you don’t think, “Great, now I can sin more!” You think, “Wow, I’m free!” And that freedom empowers you to live a life honoring to God.

The Bottom Line

So, do you have to confess or ask forgiveness for every sin? Absolutely not. Jesus already did the heavy lifting on the cross, and your sins—every last one of them—are forgiven. 1 John 1:9 isn’t a daily ritual for believers, and communion isn’t a time to panic about your failures. You’re forgiven forever, and that’s not changing.

Instead of living in fear of missing a sin, live in gratitude for the total forgiveness you’ve already received. Celebrate communion with a focus on Christ’s finished work, not on your shortcomings. You’re free, forgiven, and loved—forever. Now go live like it!