Welcome to Hank’s Place –
Coming to you today from Denver Colorado.
1 Jn 1:9 says, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Many Christians live in this verse – struggling to stay IN the will of God, to DO the will of God, and hearing voices saying they have ‘missed it’ again and again. And again. Always coming up short. Feeble Christians, not at all like their brethren.
My dear friends: if that’s you – chill! I have Good News. This verse, indeed this opening chapter, is not directed toward Christians! When John wrote, it was the early days of Gnosticism. They were coming out of the woodwork. False prophets were seeking to lead people astray.
John addresses this serious matter. He begins with his credentials. He heard and saw the Lord’s ministry. He witnessed Jesus death, resurrection and glorious ascension. He is a credible source. Then he declares the son of God was manifested here on earth, and He offers us eternal life. Eternal life is found only in the Son.
So, how do we know John is preaching to the non-Christian here?
Verse 3 – he says he is proclaiming these things so you may have fellowship with ‘us.’ He is preaching to the lost. Verse 6 – if we walk in darkness we do not practice the truth. He is preaching to the lost for believers walk in the light as He is in the light — get it? He is preaching to the lost.
Verse 8 – he writes to those who do not have the truth in them. Jesus is the Truth. John 14:6. Jesus is in us. He is preaching to the lost.
In Verse 10 – John says if you say you have not sinned you make God a liar. Gnostics said they had no need of God’s grace, of forgiveness because they had not sinned. Like self-righteous people today who say ‘I’m basically a good person.’
Verse 7. If we walk in the light (that’s what believers do) … “the blood of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin.” NOT because we live ‘right’ or examine ourselves daily and confess our sins all the time. We are clean because the blood of Jesus cleanses us and goes on cleansing us.
Notice “all sin” – not just confessed ones, not repented ones — no conditions. It is NOT up to us to maintain our salvation. His blood cleanses from all sins, not conditionally based on our willingness to confess them.
Since the word confess in 1 John 1:9 means to say the same thing as, in view of the earlier verses that addressed people who say they have no sin, John is letting people who say they have no sin know that the way to salvation is to agree with God, that they, like ALL people, have indeed sinned and are in need of a Savior.
We are saved by confessing Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9. Let someone know the Savior has come. His name is Jesus. Share the Good News. Help someone today — to COME ALIVE!
NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION
Be notified when a new blog posts