Confession
The Book of 1 John is an exciting study when viewed and understood correctly and this is a very short book. The first chapter extends an invitation for fellowship with some who were not a part of it. And in chapter three, we get to see the real commandments Jesus left us with. But there is much more.
However, for this post we are going to home in on that big issue of chapter 1, and specifically the ninth verse. And instead of attempting some lofty theological explanation, I'm going to take us right down to dirt level and see if we can draw some clarity from a passage that has engendered a lot of confusion and, yes, no little measure of irritation and division within the body of Christ.
Please read 1 John, chapter 1. It's short. Won't take but a couple of minutes.
Now, look again at verse 9…
Confession of sins is a huge issue to much of the Christian world. To those who claim this passage as a means of obtaining on-going forgiveness of sins it is the quick and easy way to stay in good standing with God, and an invitation to "keep short accounts" so that no sin is missed.
But does a quick and easy confession and keeping short accounts with God agree with other New Covenant Scripture? For the answer see Hebrews 10:11-12, 14, 18, 23. These passages seem to suggest something largely different.
It is unfortunate that some Christians view the cross of Jesus as incomplete, and His sacrifice of Himself falling short in regard to the payment for mankind's sin(s). To them there is more forgiveness that God must provide. To them forgiveness is provided ONLY through on-going confession accompanied by on-going requests for forgiveness. They seem to have forgotten what Jesus cried out from the cross: "It is finished!" Even the meaning of that proclamation is questioned by some. But MY question is, "What else did He come to do?" If it was only to prove He was/is God, He could have spared himself a lot of grief by just staying home in heaven.
But, they ask, isn't 1 John 1:9 the Christian "bar of soap" I need to keep myself clean before God? If not, what is it there for? Doesn't 1 John 1:9 say that if we confess He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness? Yes! Absolutely!But what is the context?
In real estate transactions the three most important components are 1) location, 2) location, and 3) location. In like manner, in Scriptural interpretation the three most important components are 1) context, 2) context, and 3) context. Did I mention we were going to get "down in the dirt"? For context. Okay, here goes…
In chapter 1 (see it for yourself) the apostle John is dealing with TWO groups of people: the "we/us" group … and the "you" group -- two clearly DIFFERENT groups of people.
The "we/us" group had heard something, had seen something, had beheld something, and their hands (had) handled something, concerning the Word of Life. That Life was manifested in the Person of Jesus (see the Gospel of John, chapter 1:1-14)! The "we/us" group was proclaiming what they had seen and were bear(ing) witness and proclaim(ing) to the "you" group the eternal life, which was with the Father and had been manifested to the "we/us" group".
From the Scripture here, the "you" group was unaware of and, thus, not in possession of that "eternal life" which was with the Father and had been manifest to the "we/us" group.
Moving on to verse 3, John says, "what 'we' have seen and heard 'we' proclaim to 'you' also, (now get this) that 'you' also may have fellowship with 'us'; and indeed 'our' fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
Do you see it, folks? The "we/us" group is testifying that their fellowship was with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, and they were offering an invitation to the "you" group, which clearly did NOT have fellowship with the "we/us" group and, thus, not with the Father and the Son!
Why did the "we/us" group proclaim the eternal life to the "you" group? Verse 4 says that it was "so that our joy may be made complete". Why was their joy not complete? Because those in the "you" group were (verse 6) "walk(ing) in the darkness," were spreading lies and not practicing the truth.
But John, now shifting gears and beginning to use the word "we" in an editorial sense (ostensibly to avoid being taken in a condemning way), writes, "if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and (get this!) the blood of Jesus His Son (not our confession!)cleanses us from all sin."If we say we have no sin (which is the implication concerning the "you" group), we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Friends, John was addressing unbelievers! Even so, there WAS HOPE for them! That hope was found in the very verse that so many have lifted out of context – verse 9:"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." But…"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."
From a careful studying of this passage it is abundantly clear that the "we/us" group was walking in the light--the light of life in Jesus--while the "you" group was still walking in the darkness of unbelief.
A true believer in Christ Jesus will not maintain that he does not sin. Believers understand that we sin daily and the only eternal remedy is the eternal life of Jesus Christ … and the continual action of His blood. Once His life is received, His blood takes away every sin … withoutour begging for His forgiveness.
For the unbeliever, he or she needs to confess that he or she is a sinnerin need of a Savior; accept (once and for all!) the eternal provision offered to him or her in Christ Jesus, and rest in HIS finished work, not on-going, worthless confessions intended to clean up the flesh.
I love the passage in Isaiah 1, verses 1 through 10, which seem to parallel today's "Obsession With Confession":
"10Hear the word of the LORD,You rulers of Sodom;Give ear to the instruction of our God,You people of Gomorrah. 11"What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?"Says the LORD."I have had enough of burnt offerings of ramsAnd the fat of fed cattle;And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12"When you come to appear before Me,Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13"Bring your worthless offerings no longer,"
I think the Lord would say something similar to today Confessors—those who cheapen the cross of Christ by seeking on-going forgiveness for their sins. Verse 11: What are you multiplied confessions to Me? I have had more than enough of all of your religious trappings.Verse 12: When you come to appear before Me, Who requires the wearing out of the carpet in your churches as you stream forward each Sunday for endless confessions and rededications?Verse 13: They are all worthless because they produce no change in your hearts!
Wow! Some things never change!
Once the sinner has confessed his or her sinfulness and the deadness of his or her spirit and accepted the eternal life of Jesus, he or she is no longer a "sinner" by definition, but a Child of God. Do we sin after becoming children of God? Yes! Of course! And if we are moved to confess our sins, there is nothing wrong with that. But NOT for the purpose of obtaining more forgiveness, for there is no more forgiveness or sacrifice to be had apart from the shedding of blood, and Jesus is not going to die again. It is finished. It is over. It is complete. The sin issue that stood between Holy God and wretched man has been taken away. Forever (see Hebrews 9:27-28).
The most reasonable, rational, and logical thing we can do when we sin is to say thanks to God that through Jesus--His sacrifice, and His life--we will never have to pay a penalty to God for our sins. Jesus has already paid. Now we look to the Holy Spirit Who lives within us to guide us and show us better ways. ~~~
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