Must Confession Be Exhaustive In Order to Be Effective?

Sometimes I remember details of my past and with pornography, but I already confessed to my wife. Should I continue to confess everything.

I remember to her that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com will first up today. Given all the difficult news in the last week or so wanted to share a good news story with you. It's about a guy named Rob Kennedy.

Rob is being called the Internet's dad after starting a YouTube channel that helps teens and young adults who don't have fathers in their lives.

Rob channel is called dad how do I add, it's gone viral in a big way. He says he decided to create the channel to help young adults who don't have the privilege of calling up their own dads or father figures to ask them simple questions is videos allow people anywhere in the world to become a little more self-sufficient as he teaches them things like how to change a tire, how to tie a tie, how to fix a running toilet. Rob lives in Kent Washington and his daughter had been pushing him to go through with his idea for a YouTube channel, but it wasn't until the coronavirus crisis hit that he decided it was time to turn his dream into a reality is not cool and that's really cool and I probably need to watch those videos because I only know how to do one of the three things I mean seriously at her IME bill. You know this that I didn't grow up with the dad around the house so there were a lot of those kind of little things that I felt like I had to figure out on my own later on. So it really is such a wonderful thing. And what an important thing that family is so important. Dads are so important, so I'm grateful that he's doing this.

Kudos to you Rob, that is just really wonderful later.

Let's get to our first question of the day and this one comes from Kate who says what biblical wisdom can you provide for tithing and giving during job loss or the loss of regular income. How can an individual honor the Lord with their finances when their living off of savings for a time, or receiving unemployment, Kate. What a relevant question, especially with everything going on.

I know a lot of people have lost their jobs or have just taken significant pay cuts.

So the key text when it comes to giving under the new covenant is second Corinthians chapter 9 verse seven. I shall start in verse six, Paul said the point is this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver in the tie was a part of the old covenant system all and it was actually probably more than 10% actually in the New Testament were called to give as we've purposed that you can still give joyfully during this time, even if it's sacrificially do it. I know that might sound crazy, you will look the way Jesus talked about money and possessions in the way we often talk about money and possessions today are completely it ought to go to stories that we see in the Gospels, you have the story of the rich fool that Jesus gives in Luke chapter 12 verses 13 through 21, where you have this guy who start up all that he had many he just had this basically warehouse of riches because he had been wise with investment you know yet is all this money and yet he's stores it up and he dies and God calls him a fool.

He basically just sat on his riches, then most of the story of the poor widow describe a little bit later in Luke chapter 21 verses one through four. This this poor widow who doesn't have anything to take the last little bit of money that she has and she gives it to the temple and Jesus looks at these two people rich fool. In Luke 12 and the poor widow in Luke 21 and he says the poor widow is wise and blessed that risk. I saved all that he had.

He was the fool you think about that and I think today in our society and our culture, we would say the rich person was wise. Look at how well he invested his money and he was able to store up for the future that widow boy that was a bad decision. You know your your last little bit of money your last point you're giving it away and yet Jesus reflects everything on its head. Now there are times where you simply can't give and I think that's where the church can come in as the church. The church can come in clutching those situations because there are instances where maybe instead of giving you need to take your turn receiving and I know I know for brothers and sisters who have lost their jobs for people just don't have any money that there's no way that they can be generous.

There are times where I think we take a step back and in the church is able to come alongside and help us. You see this in the book of acts over and over again work where you have the poor who are supported by and helped by those who are more wealthy in the church for a period of time. So I think that it's a complex issue and I'll just say just because giving is more difficult doesn't mean that it should not be done that I read from second Corinthians chapter 9 but if you go back one chapter in chapter 8.

Beginning in verse one. Paul says we want you to know brothers about the grace of God that is been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part, for they gave according to their means is I can testify and beyond their means of their own accord. Wow is it I don't want to just say hey these are hard times, so maybe don't give to the church because you know you need to make sure that your you know saving the amount of money that you would typically savor that your you know, holding tightly to the things that you have no I mean in Scripture. I think we have examples of sacrificial giving and sacrificial giving his last Jesus praises the poor widow, and Paul there in second Corinthians chapter 8 praises the churches of Macedonia doesn't mean that were always able to give in difficult circumstances. That's what I was trying to get up earlier Kate but I think this is an area where you have to examine your own heart the situation that urine and pray and ask God for wisdom and if you can.

As the text says in in second Corinthians 9. Give joyfully knowing ultimately that the Lord is the one who provides for you Kate. I once heard a pastor say this and and I've never forgotten it and I find I've seen it to be true in my own life, you can never out give the Lord. We are primarily recipients, first and foremost of God's grace of God's goodness of the forgiveness of all of our sins and the gospel of Jesus Christ and that should be the fire that fuels our giving our joyful giving knowing that were primarily recipients that we receive God's goodness. God's provision so we can get to give, and we get to give sacrificially at times. That should be the guiding principle for us federal. I'm so glad you appointed God's generosity to each one of us because that is so key in our response is always thankfulness to what God is as blessed us with these cabinets so much. Even though at times it's hard for us to know. We look at our circumstances and we may be going through difficult times, but indeed God has given his all his son. And I think we just need to remember that day by day and just hang onto that incredible promise. Thanks so much Kate for your question. Let's go to a call that came in by the way our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

You can also go to our website and record a questionnaire@corechristianity.com/radio just look for the low microphone there on the right hand side and you can record your question there. John the radio about I'm going to Catholic Church my front Christian church. One thing that I noticed that are different, but Catholic Church communion once everyday. I went to church only character once a month. Big difference between that and it's John, thanks for your question, will the answer hinges on what communion is, for many churches it's viewed as a time to remember Jesus's death, primarily it's somberly reflecting on the cross of Jesus, that the reality is you can do that anytime the church is that you communion as a means of grace often will take it more frequently. Know what I mean by means of grace. What communion is more than just something you are doing. It's you reflecting or remembering, etc. it's actually a gift that you are receiving and the gift is the body and blood of Jesus Christ by faith we got we had to be faithful to the teaching of the Scripture on this Paul in first Corinthians chapter 10 teaches us that communion is more than just a mental recollection of what Jesus has done for us, but that it's actually fellowship with the body and blood of Jesus.

Listen to what he said in first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 16. The cup of blessing that we bless is it not a participation in the blood of Christ, the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ because there is one bread, we who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread seat when trust is I think John the one of the reasons why many churches take communion less frequently why they do it once 1/4 or once a year.

Even I've heard of churches taking the Lord's supper is because they viewed primarily as just something that they're doing well. It's it's our time to remember Jesus and and you know we haven't forgotten you know since the last quarter that we tickets for taking a little bit of extra time. I know there's a great fear among many.

They don't want that.

The observance of the Lord's supper to become wrote just something we sort of go through the motions and I get that. But the reality is, according to the teaching of Scripture.

Communion is more than than just this will certainly more than just empty ritual and it certainly more than just us remembering it's communion, fellowship with the true body and blood of Jesus Christ by faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit is II think that that could be one reason why different churches take communion more or less frequently as the other really important thing for you to know related to the Lord's supper related to communion. These are gifts that God is giving to us means of grace ways that were built up and nourished in our faith. But if we receive them without faith and they don't benefit us.

So there. There is also a warning associated with the Lord supper that Paul gives in first Corinthians chapter 11 where he says in verse 20 and 1127 whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord know you might be interested to know this John, but there was actually a point in church history where the Western church that essentially people have to take communion at least once a year because they were so afraid of taking the Lord's supper because of warnings like this that lady just the average person in the pew would not take the Lord's supper and that also is I think an incorrect view because it's it's not that were supposed to be so somber fear and trembling that we just saw I'm not worthy to take that. The reality is, none of us are worthy to take the Lord's supper not in and of our own selves meant were able to take the supper because of the forgiveness of sins because of the fact that we been united to Jesus Christ and so we come in repentance were not perfect Lord supper is for sinful people who need to experience God's grace and they know that they are sinners and we come to the table. God gives to us that grace is so we ought to take it frequently. At least that's my perspective and I know that churches have different views on this and I really try to give some of the rationale for why that might be, but everyone's going to be different.

You might get different answers depending on who you ask, but my view and I think the view of Scripture is this is the means of grace and therefore we ought to take it frequently every time we gather together as God's people to hear the preached word. Thanks, John Earl is the core Christianity, where we answer your questions about the Christian faith in the Bible every day and a drill. I love hearing from you. We have an amazing team of people behind us producing the show. Writing the core articles for website producing the core Bible studies and we pray that those resources are helping you and other believers to more fully understand the gospel and have the confidence to share your faith now as you can imagine, this requires a lot of different people to come alongside us and support this important work. We can't do it without your prayers and your financial support, and that's why were asking you to come alongside us and become a regular supporter with a monthly donation of $25 or more enjoyment. We call the inner core be part of the team that makes this show possible not to do that just head over to core Christianity.com/inner core.

To learn more. That's core Christianity.com/inner core. You can give us a call at 833 the core that's 833-843-2670 30 Bill can I do share one story from an inner core member an email that I received you but I always talking to a dear brother who called us here on core Christianity became a part of the inner core got to know him a little bit of a little bit better. Come to find he just came to faith. Back in March. He's been walking with Jesus Christ for only a few months and he said this, he wrote to me my conversion to Christ happened on the night of March 11 morning of March 12, news kept getting worse and worse. We're getting bad news at home that's in the family. I could not keep a job, my marriage was facing difficulty. I clutched my chest some days curing the burden all my own fearful I would collapse while preparing for the pandemic.

I bought a weather radio. I do not have a desire to play my normal music that they something told me to turn the radio on. I started browsing the stations and your program is on. After your program. I listened on and on into the wee hours of the morning.

I could not turn the radio off. I cried out to the Lord and the Holy Spirit made his presence known, and I felt a very loving assuring sensation start up my feet and slowly worked its way up to my spine and ended on the top of my neck and rested there as a loving father who is seeing you off on your first day of school would my vision changed lights were brighter and that feeling returned anytime I learn something new about the gospel that clicked in my head or anytime I spoke my truth to my wife the lights would start glowing brightly from my perspective I learned how to pray better. I started asking the Lord for my desires to be his desires, the supernatural feelings went away after a few weeks, as one would expect my love for Christ remained was growing and continues to grow is so beautiful I tell you what man I just my heart just left inside of me when I when I received that I was so filled with joy mean II shed some tears.

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You could just let us know how this program has encouraged you drill us go to an email question who came in from one of our listeners who actually did not give his name and he says this. My question is regarding confession of sin by God's grace for almost 2 years now I've died to pornography and other immoral actions in my life. I repented to the Lord and I confess to my wife the sins including many sinful thoughts I've had in the past. However, in my heart I still feel unsettled in unforgiven because I can continue to remember more bad thoughts that I used to entertain or some that I've had recently. I don't know if I need to continue to confess the similar things to my wife. I know it can be a burden because I'm living in the past I feel I can never move forward because I feel the need to exhaustively confess every terrible thing I thought or done in the past.

Can you please give me some guidance on this. The first brother, let me just give praise to God for the fact that he's delivered you the way that he has father I give you thanks for your grace in our lives and in the life of this brother. Thank you Lord for doing what you've promised to do in your word guide you say that by your spirit. You will put to death the sinful deeds of our bodies of God I am so grateful for the victory that this brother has and I asked that you would continue to give him victory that you would strengthen him and his faith in his walk with you that you would draw him closer to you, and I think of the person listening right now, Lord, who is still way down by this particular sin which you extend mercy to them right now. What you give them a sense of your goodness of your loving kindness of Lord the heinousness and the destruction that this sin causes, but Lord of the grace that is found in your son Jesus Christ in the power of your Holy Spirit to put to death. Even this sin.

So what would you be with this brother is emailed us, would you continue to grant him victory.

Would you be with all those listening right now who need your grace in this area, I ask in Jesus name, amen. Okay, we bring up another issue is and is this just because you aren't actively viewing pornography doesn't mean you may not be entertaining, lustful thoughts. Jesus was absolutely clear about this in the sermon on the Mount that when he said that whoever looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery in his heart.

That's Matthew chapter 5 verse 28. Let me say this, there's a difference between that and having an impure thought or memory crossed your mind. Sometimes that just happens, and while it grieves us in the thought of sin. All we should grieve us is not necessarily a sin when the thought enters your mind what you do with those thoughts, though, do you fantasize about them. Do you seek them out. Are you looking at others with lustful intent. If you are and confess it to the Lord and perhaps two to an accountability partner to your wife as you say, and I always encourage husbands and wives.

To be honest with each other about these kinds of things because it hurts the relationship when we aren't hiding from each other. If, however, and I've seen this to you in a spouse says hey please don't confess it to me because it makes me feel so angry and insecure. I feel like my responses sinful.

I preferred that you confess it to a trusted accountability partner or an elder and in the church.

I think that's okay to it. I've talked to husbands and wives were they so you know we have this kind of open accountability thing that I've also talked to couples work where the wife was there. The husband will say please confess that not to me necessarily matter what I want to know what's going on but would you please talk to the pastor to an elder someone that we trust you can who can help to carry this load because I don't feel like I can right now what you don't want is to get into the dark hole of hiding in sexual sin will put us there because it will make you feel so ashamed and alone when it comes to breaking the back of sexual sin.

Confession and accountability is so important and I praise Jesus that he is giving you progress in this area keep putting this sin to death, though John Owen, the famous Puritan writer. He put it best. I think when he said be killing sin or sin will be killing you. He said again be killing sin or sin will be killing you. It's true that doesn't mean that you need to confess every time a horrible thought enters your mind you hate those thoughts that I can tell just by your question. I think when those thoughts come in. You pray, say, Lord Jesus Christ, son of God have mercy upon me, a sinner. Purify my mind. Help me not to give any safe harbor to the thought of sin to think on that which is good and true and beautiful to fix my mind, my heart on you, Lord Jesus, and I think that's a prayer that the Lord wants to answer and will answer. I think of what Paul told the Thessalonians. This is the will of God for you and Jesus Christ, your sanctification that you abstain from sexual immorality. If you're battling with sexual sin.

Let me just tell you right now because I I've seen it time and time again in the church, individuals feel so crushed by this they feel like it's absolutely hopeless, like there's no hope. Like they're never going to get better will. Here's what you can have hope you can have hope because Almighty God is for you going back to your initial question brother. It can be unhelpful in marriage to you every time you you have this thought crossed her mind to say out to your spouse. I sorry it happened again or to go into the details of every fantasy that you've had a thing that you've looked at. Be careful with that. I think it's okay to say, look, I'm I'm struggling. Please pray for me. It really is helpful to have an accountability partner a male accountability partner in your church, someone who's in a be able to speak the truth of the gospel to you especially when you need to hear it when you're struggling when you're wondering, if you abandoned me. I'm still wrestling with the same will send you need to hear the gospel, you need to know God is for you. And if God is can be against you. Thanks for listening to court Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at court, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together