Hi David,
I don't want this to become an
issue, particularly since we are in essential agreement, and
this will be my last response to response to response.
Of course I know that all my sin,
past, present and future, is forgiven in Christ Jesus, that it
is covered by His holy, perfect, precious innocent blood, that
my Father in Heaven no longer sees my sin. That in no way
precludes my obligation to confess my daily sins, my foot
washing, if you will. And, if the Lord sees fit to bring to
remembrance past sin which has not been explicitly confessed,
it is for my good. My old man, whom I am heartily sick of, is
like one of those clown punching bags. Knock him down and up
he comes again.
I believe I mentioned that an
unknown percentage of the sinners prayers were valid. The
converse is also true. Even in the case of an invalid
utterance, a seed has been planted. Hopefully that will be
followed by germination at some future time.
I've been involved in evangelizing
efforts whose sole objective was to induce the target to utter
the prayer. Then, at day's end, everyone compares scorecards.
This is not a good approach.
I enjoy your posts and agree, in
essence, if not in fact, with you.
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2013/davidb728-2.htm
Maranatha,