Anyone who says they love someone and chooses not to apologize when they hurt them–deliberately or not–is very confused about how to have a close, loving relationship. If we love God and yet sin against him, we should apologize and ask forgiveness to repair the quality of the relationship. If we sin seriously and persistently, we can lose any relationship–even with God. ( viz. “Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. 13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” –Matt. 24:13
God’s People Have Always Confessed Sin
The Jews repented for their sins for 1500 years–at God’s command.
Jesus ( Who is THE TRUTH ( i.e. He cannot say anything that is not eternally true. He only said what the Father told Him to say) taught His disciples to confess sin for forgiveness ( Lord’s prayer), the early church confessed its sins ( 1 John 1:8-9 is written to Christians–as are all the books of the Bible. There is no real proof to the contrary).
God warned the Ephesian Church to repent or face severe discipline:
Rev. 2:5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent.”
Why would God suddenly not want His children to confess sins to repair the quality of the relationship? Heb 12 teaches that God disciplines us so we will become more righteous–because He loves us, like a good Father.
This new-fangled teaching ( 10 years old?) that we do not need to confess sin to repair the closeness of our relationship with God is pure nonsense. It does not work in any human relationship and humans were made in God’s image. That should tell you something.
We want apologies because God wants apologies –and He has always taught His children to confess and apologize. He wants us to confess and repent of sin so He can bless us more. Every command is meant to open new pathways to bless and protect us.
His discipline for unrepentant sin is to give us more motivation to repent so He can draw closer to us and bless us more. That’s what a good Father does!!
