Carefree ask a question of being questioned by elder's for her sin of adultery. She said some question's are too strong and personal to answer. Now my second question is; if I am really thinking of taking a Bible Study and I pursue to follow through; and than decide to become a baptize member do I need to confess ALL my sins before I am baptize? Before a person is baptize are their sin's not accountable to that religion? It's like you get baptize and you become "whole" again with no past sin's like the "lady they wanted to stone"? Because Jesus did not ask her about her sin, but asked her if anyone condemned her. Her answer was "no Lord." Then Jesus told her, "I also do not condemn you, go and sin no more." I mean, you know what I'm getting at?
2007-08-01 08:09:11 · 12 answers · asked by Debs 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No pre-baptism "confession" is needed or suggested before Jehovah's Witness elders. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a general "confession" can and must be made privately between the new Christian and Jehovah God.
(Psalm 49:7) Not one of them [humans] can by any means redeem even a brother
(1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A person who hopes to qualify for baptism "confesses" his sins to God in prayer as part of repentance (which precedes conversion, dedication, and baptism). The sins of one's distant past do not need to be re-confessed to God repeatedly, since the ransom sacrifice makes them "white".
(Isaiah 1:18) Let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though the sins of you people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool.
Of course, the bible plainly teaches that it is important for a dedicated worshipper of God to work with "older men" when he has lapsed into serious sin, so that the sinner may regain his relationship with God and Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus is what allows the sin to be forgiven, so the help from congregation elders to a baptized sinner is primarily to assure a speedy recovery from spiritual "sickness".
(James 5:14-16) Is there anyone [spiritually] sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, [metaphorically] greasing him with oil in the name of Jehovah. 15 And the prayer of faith will make the [spiritually] indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may get healed [spiritually].
Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19951101a/article_01.htm
2007-08-01 10:04:39 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, Hawaiian girl, u don't confess all ur past sins.
You just don't continue to do them.
No, ur past sins are not accountable to ur new found faith.
The only Q's that are asked of u r simple;
Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Savior?
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Do you accept Jehovah as the One True God?
Q's along this path.
You r only asked 3 Q's,
then u go get ready to be Baptised.
See, real simple.
I've been to 2 DC's where Baptising was done,
and I only remember 3 Q's were asked.
2007-08-01 09:04:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
You are not required to confess anything. Go and sin no more is the key, of course we as humans will always sin as long as we live because we are imperfect, but the practice of sin is what is bad. I hope you do start a bible study, I have noticed in you a sincere attempt to find the truth. Happy reading.
2007-08-01 09:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
of course not. we are born into sin. what we did before we ar baptized Jehovah forgets about. if is what we do after we are baptized that counts. even after we are baptized we still are imperfect and make mistakes. that is why when we pray to Jehovah God threw his son Jesus Christ we should always always ask for forgiveness. sometimes we sin and do not even know we are sinning. the elders in the kingdom hall are not there to judge us, they are there to help us and they help you with prayer if you need it. remember the elders are imperfect just like we are.
2007-08-01 09:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we know what you are getting at.
As has already been mentioned, no, you do not need to confess anything. As long as you are not sinning at all when you get baptized. You are not practicing fornication, you are not smoking, abusing drugs, that sort of thing. And you haven't murdered anybody.
One more thing: keep in mind Acts 28:22. As you read that, think of the modern day comments referring to Witnesses as a cult. According to that scripture at Acts, they thought it proper to go to the source, as it were, and find out their thoughts. You are doing well in soliciting comments from Witnesses. And do not close your ears to the detractors. Listen well and make your decision.
Hannah
2007-08-01 08:34:03 · answer #5 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Prior to baptism, you ask Jehovah for forgiveness for your past sins, and request his spirit to help you from committing future sins.
As to confessing sins to the elders for sins you comment in the future, there are only to a handful that are classified as gross sins.
These are sins that effect your spiritual relationship with Jehovah.
example,
if you lie once, you can go directly to Jehovah thru Jesus and ask for forgiveness.
if you find yourself lying everyday then you need to go to the elders for help in overcoming this 'problem'
James 5:13Â Is there anyone suffering evil among YOU? Let him carry on prayer. Is there anyone in good spirits? Let him sing psalms. 14Â Is there anyone sick among YOU? Let him call the older men of the congregation to [him], and let them pray over him, greasing [him] with oil in the name of Jehovah. 15Â And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.
16 Therefore openly confess YOUR sins to one another and pray for one another, that YOU may get healed. A righteous man’s supplication, when it is at work, has much force. 17 E·li′jah was a man with feelings like ours, and yet in prayer he prayed for it not to rain; and it did not rain upon the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the land put forth its fruit.
The confessing of sins is not to satisfy an elder, but to get their help in overcoming the sin, so as to be clean in Jehovah's eyes.
.
2007-08-02 04:23:24 · answer #6 · answered by TeeM 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The sins committed before one dedicated his life to serve the true God are confessed only to God in prayer, as one is repenting of these and changing his life. No reason to ever bring those up again. (You yourself may choose to share this with someone on a personal level who may be be struggling to overcome similar sins)
2007-08-01 10:34:44 · answer #7 · answered by babydoll 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
If you decide to get baptised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you don't need to confess any sins. All you need to do is repent of your former sins and not continue to do them. You just need to live your life by the Bible.
2007-08-01 08:15:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mabes 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
whatever you did before becoming a witness is never brought up. Never heard of that before. After babtism they ask to help you to overcome desires that are not consistant with christian beliefs.
2007-08-01 10:05:27 · answer #9 · answered by Ruth 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, of course not, the question that you may answer are for example if you are married or if you smoke, etc but nothing about your private life.
2007-08-01 08:14:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋