(January 8, 2018 at 2:57 am)vulcanlogician Wrote: What's up with this?
It's the first step in the ABCs of becoming a Christian (Admit, Believe, Confess) but I always saw it as a rather unhealthy way to reflect upon one's misdeeds. Personally, I think something like "I made a mistake" or "That was terrible of me to do" is a much more beneficial as it is directed toward the action itself. It doesn't make the assumption: I did a bad thing, therefore I'm a bad person.
What does it really even mean?
Admit that I'm capable of moral transgressions? Sure, I'll admit that. But that doesn't mean I am anything, does it?
Does it mean admit that I've commited moral transgressions in the past? I'll admit that too. And while you're at it, I'll probably fail in my moral responsibilities in the future too. I admit it.
Theists: Have I admitted in this post that I'm a sinner? Or is there more to it than that? If so, what's the difference?
Admitting you are a sinner (which you have) has no consequence/effect other than to be the prerequisite step toward asking Jesus to become your Lord/Savior and asking for forgiveness with the end goal being having those same sins wiped clean. This 'having those sins wiped clean' has three interrelated effects: 1) personal peace now (mitigating some portion of guilty feelings), 2) a lifestyle/heart change--where you strive to avoid sinning and instead pursue the fruits of being a spirit-filled Christian (see note), and 3) after your death when you are called to account for your sins. If you have genuinely accepted Jesus' gift, then you are not called to account for your sins--they have been paid for.
As with most Christian doctrines, carving out a component for discussion is insufficient. You need the context of the larger doctrine to discover the meaning because systematic theology is a framework of inter-relating ideas. For example, you have touched on in your brief post the Doctrine of Man, the Doctrine of Sin, and the Doctrine of Salvation.
NOTE: The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is a biblical term that sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit according to the Epistle to the Galatians: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."[2] The fruits is contrasted with the works of the flesh which immediately precede it in the chapter. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_of_the_Holy_Spirit)
