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1 John 1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and DO not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we HAVE NOT sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and DO not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we HAVE NOT sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:7-9
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us (NOT "COVERS" US) from all sin. (<CONTEXT ESTABLISHED)
8 If we say that we have no sin (...TO CLEANSE; CONTEXT FOLLOWED), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins (CONTEXT MAINTAINED), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us (NOT "COVER" US) from all unrighteousness.
----
Question 1)
Can one cleanse a stain they don't first acknowledge exists?
Question 2)
Is "cleansing" a stain the same as "covering up" a stain?
Question 3)
When the stain is "cleansed", does it remain or is it removed?
Question 4)
If someone is "cleansed" from their unrighteousness the moment they earnestly confess in prayer, are they unrighteous anymore if they haven't yet sinned again?
Question 5)
If they're cleansed from their stain of sin by God the moment they confess do they still have that stain of sin if they haven't yet sinned again?
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us (NOT "COVERS" US) from all sin. (<CONTEXT ESTABLISHED)
8 If we say that we have no sin (...TO CLEANSE; CONTEXT FOLLOWED), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins (CONTEXT MAINTAINED), he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us (NOT "COVER" US) from all unrighteousness.
----
Question 1)
Can one cleanse a stain they don't first acknowledge exists?
Question 2)
Is "cleansing" a stain the same as "covering up" a stain?
Question 3)
When the stain is "cleansed", does it remain or is it removed?
Question 4)
If someone is "cleansed" from their unrighteousness the moment they earnestly confess in prayer, are they unrighteous anymore if they haven't yet sinned again?
Question 5)
If they're cleansed from their stain of sin by God the moment they confess do they still have that stain of sin if they haven't yet sinned again?
Scripture isolated can cause all sorts of opinions and traditions to be put in place:
If we pay attention to the ..we and our and the you in 1 John chapter 1 we will discover some great truths. These may conflict with some our church teachings and traditions.
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we (believers - namely John ) have looked at and ourhands have touched - this weproclaim concerning the Word of Life"
(I John 1:1).
In other words, John is establishing that he was an eyewitness to the fact that Jesus truly did come in the flesh. He did this to convince the Gnostics that Jesus was not an illusion.
"We( believers - namely John himself ) proclaim to you(unbelievers - gnostics ) what we have seen and heard, so that you (unbelievers - gnostics ) also may have fellowship with us ( believers ). And our(believers )fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ" (verse 3).
This verse says two things. First, John repeats the fact that he, the rest of the apostles and other people saw Christ in the flesh. He wanted the Gnostics ( unbelievers ) to realize that there were many people who could testify to the reality of Christ.
Second, he is saying that there are some people in the audience who were not in the fellowship with Christ. ( just like we do now in all churches....there are both types of people )
"This is the message we ( believers ) have heard from Him and declare to you ( unbelievers ):God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all" (verse 5).
John's message in this verse is clear: God is light and in Him there is no darkness. We are either in the light (saved) or in darkness (lost). Scriptures are full of this comparison between light (saved) vs. darkness (lost).
"If weclaim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (verse 6).
In other words, if someone says he has fellowship with Christ, but is walking in darkness (lost), he is lying and not practicing the truth. The Gnostics ( not true believers ) claimed to be in fellowship with Christ (saved), and yet were actually living a lie and therefore weren't practicing the truth.
"If we ( believers )walk in the light, as He is in the light,we ( believers ) have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us ( believers ) from all sin" (verse 7).
In other words, if we walk in the light (are saved) we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. To put it another way, once we are saved, we are permanently in the fellowship because the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin. The blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin because we are in Christ. This is always in present tense.
Therefore, we aren't forgiven because we confess our sins. We are forgiven because of what Christ did for us on the cross.
"If we( John putting all of us in the same boat before coming to Christ ) claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (verse 8).
John is now addressing the belief the Gnostics had regarding sin because they didn't believe it was real and therefore believed they had no sin. The "we" John is using here refers to all people before coming to Christ including all believers too which "we" had to acknowledge at some point in our lives.
He is referring specifically to the Gnostics, who believed they were without sin. Because they claimed to be without sin, then they were only deceiving themselves and the truth (Jesus) was not in them.
However, verse 9 says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
In other words, if the Gnostics were to confess they had sins, then God, Who is faithful and righteous, would forgive and cleanse them from their unrighteousness.
In the Greek language, the words "forgive" and "cleanse" mean past actions that have results today and will continue to have results in the future.
Also, the word "all" used in these verses means all. It doesn't mean that we are cleansed of our past sins and our past unrighteousness, it means we were cleansed of all our unrighteousness. And if God cleanses us from all unrighteousness, then we are cleansed forever!
We become a new creation in Christ - created in righteousness and holiness. Eph. 4:24
"If we claim we ( all of us were in this boat at one time ) have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives" (verse 10).
Basically this verse is a repeat of verse 8. To put it simply, it means that the Gnostics can't claim to be without sin and yet be saved. John is saying that because the Gnostics claimed they had no sin, they were actually calling God a liar and therefore didn't know the truth.
The purpose of the first chapter of 1 John was to compare the truth of God to the error of gnosticism. John was addressing the Gnostics, who were deceived by their own teaching. He wanted the Gnostics to understand that what they believed conflicted with what God said. He was not, however, addressing believers.
However we can all learn from all scriptures including 1 John 1 - I especially love the truth of verse 7 - the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin because we are in Him.
If we pay attention to the ..we and our and the you in 1 John chapter 1 we will discover some great truths. These may conflict with some our church teachings and traditions.
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we (believers - namely John ) have looked at and ourhands have touched - this weproclaim concerning the Word of Life"
(I John 1:1).
In other words, John is establishing that he was an eyewitness to the fact that Jesus truly did come in the flesh. He did this to convince the Gnostics that Jesus was not an illusion.
"We( believers - namely John himself ) proclaim to you(unbelievers - gnostics ) what we have seen and heard, so that you (unbelievers - gnostics ) also may have fellowship with us ( believers ). And our(believers )fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ" (verse 3).
This verse says two things. First, John repeats the fact that he, the rest of the apostles and other people saw Christ in the flesh. He wanted the Gnostics ( unbelievers ) to realize that there were many people who could testify to the reality of Christ.
Second, he is saying that there are some people in the audience who were not in the fellowship with Christ. ( just like we do now in all churches....there are both types of people )
"This is the message we ( believers ) have heard from Him and declare to you ( unbelievers ):God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all" (verse 5).
John's message in this verse is clear: God is light and in Him there is no darkness. We are either in the light (saved) or in darkness (lost). Scriptures are full of this comparison between light (saved) vs. darkness (lost).
"If weclaim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." (verse 6).
In other words, if someone says he has fellowship with Christ, but is walking in darkness (lost), he is lying and not practicing the truth. The Gnostics ( not true believers ) claimed to be in fellowship with Christ (saved), and yet were actually living a lie and therefore weren't practicing the truth.
"If we ( believers )walk in the light, as He is in the light,we ( believers ) have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us ( believers ) from all sin" (verse 7).
In other words, if we walk in the light (are saved) we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. To put it another way, once we are saved, we are permanently in the fellowship because the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin. The blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin because we are in Christ. This is always in present tense.
Therefore, we aren't forgiven because we confess our sins. We are forgiven because of what Christ did for us on the cross.
"If we( John putting all of us in the same boat before coming to Christ ) claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (verse 8).
John is now addressing the belief the Gnostics had regarding sin because they didn't believe it was real and therefore believed they had no sin. The "we" John is using here refers to all people before coming to Christ including all believers too which "we" had to acknowledge at some point in our lives.
He is referring specifically to the Gnostics, who believed they were without sin. Because they claimed to be without sin, then they were only deceiving themselves and the truth (Jesus) was not in them.
However, verse 9 says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
In other words, if the Gnostics were to confess they had sins, then God, Who is faithful and righteous, would forgive and cleanse them from their unrighteousness.
In the Greek language, the words "forgive" and "cleanse" mean past actions that have results today and will continue to have results in the future.
Also, the word "all" used in these verses means all. It doesn't mean that we are cleansed of our past sins and our past unrighteousness, it means we were cleansed of all our unrighteousness. And if God cleanses us from all unrighteousness, then we are cleansed forever!
We become a new creation in Christ - created in righteousness and holiness. Eph. 4:24
"If we claim we ( all of us were in this boat at one time ) have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives" (verse 10).
Basically this verse is a repeat of verse 8. To put it simply, it means that the Gnostics can't claim to be without sin and yet be saved. John is saying that because the Gnostics claimed they had no sin, they were actually calling God a liar and therefore didn't know the truth.
The purpose of the first chapter of 1 John was to compare the truth of God to the error of gnosticism. John was addressing the Gnostics, who were deceived by their own teaching. He wanted the Gnostics to understand that what they believed conflicted with what God said. He was not, however, addressing believers.
However we can all learn from all scriptures including 1 John 1 - I especially love the truth of verse 7 - the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from all sin because we are in Him.
KJV1John3;8-9 8.He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Thank you Father for this kind of opportunity for yours Sons and Daughters. We're really blessed with you!
Notice that - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (vs. 9) is IN CONTRAST TO - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (vs. 8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (vs. 10). Some people misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we must confess each sin that we commit as we commit them (keep a specific inventory) as an additional requirement to remain cleansed and if we forget a sin we are toast!
Do you believe that John is focusing on confessing every single sin that we commit as we commit them as an additional requirement to remain cleansed? Or do you believe that John has in mind here a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness?
NO.
Not necessarily. Jesus covered our sins in one way (Romans 4:7) by bringing forgiveness for all believers, yet sins can also be covered in a different way. In Proverbs 10:12, we read: Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. In 1 Peter 4:8, we read: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Cleanse (2511) (katharizo from katharos = pure, clean, without stain or spot.
Are you implying that cleansing comes through confession or sinless perfection?
Do you believe that John is focusing on confessing every single sin that we commit as we commit them as an additional requirement to remain cleansed? Or do you believe that John has in mind here a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness?
NO.
Not necessarily. Jesus covered our sins in one way (Romans 4:7) by bringing forgiveness for all believers, yet sins can also be covered in a different way. In Proverbs 10:12, we read: Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. In 1 Peter 4:8, we read: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Cleanse (2511) (katharizo from katharos = pure, clean, without stain or spot.
Are you implying that cleansing comes through confession or sinless perfection?
There's not really an inventory to keep track of if you think about it because if one has the Holy Spirit in them they are immediately convicted of the sin once committed. Thus if they simply ask for forgiveness right then and there, on the spot, genuinely contrite, there isn't a tally necessary to keep. That sin is cleaned from their books and the believer continues their day right with God. If you consider this position hypothetically for a moment why would a true believer wait until any later time frame to confess their list of sins when they're simply a prayer away to get cleansed as soon as convicted in the Spirit? Humble and contrite, all he would have to say is "Forgive me God. I didn't mean to do that."
To tally a list for later isn't evident of a humble and contrite heart that wants to remain right with God at all times.
Well the beginning of the letter establishes John's context and that context is maintained throughout the letter. So I chose the first option of your question. John says that one who "walks in darkness has no fellowship with God", and if they say they do have fellowship with God while walking in darkness they are liars because God is light who can't be around darkness at all. John is contrasting one's action with their statement of position. This context is further support when he says things like "don't be deceived; the one who does right is righteous". If one doesn't do right one isn't righteous anymore and must be cleansed of their unrighteousness to be righteous again.
I appreciate you answering my first three questions. They're establishing the proof of what I'm implying...
1) Cleansing of sin comes through confession. One can't get cleaned of sin if they don't first acknowledge the sin they committed.
2) But once one acknowledges and then confesses one is cleansed of that sin and they are at that moment (in fact) "sinless" and pure and righteous, specifically because "cleanse" means "pure, clean, without stain or spot".
3) My Implication: If they haven't yet sinned again, they are *still* sinless and pure and righteous. Not a sinner.
4) My Implication: Once they sin again, they are then a sinner and impure and unrighteous and must be cleansed again by confessing that sin to cleans their unrighteousness.
5) My Implication: A humble and contrite heart willing to confess their sin as soon as committed is walking in light. So cleansing comes to one whose heart wants to do right by God.
To tally a list for later isn't evident of a humble and contrite heart that wants to remain right with God at all times.
Well the beginning of the letter establishes John's context and that context is maintained throughout the letter. So I chose the first option of your question. John says that one who "walks in darkness has no fellowship with God", and if they say they do have fellowship with God while walking in darkness they are liars because God is light who can't be around darkness at all. John is contrasting one's action with their statement of position. This context is further support when he says things like "don't be deceived; the one who does right is righteous". If one doesn't do right one isn't righteous anymore and must be cleansed of their unrighteousness to be righteous again.
I appreciate you answering my first three questions. They're establishing the proof of what I'm implying...
1) Cleansing of sin comes through confession. One can't get cleaned of sin if they don't first acknowledge the sin they committed.
2) But once one acknowledges and then confesses one is cleansed of that sin and they are at that moment (in fact) "sinless" and pure and righteous, specifically because "cleanse" means "pure, clean, without stain or spot".
3) My Implication: If they haven't yet sinned again, they are *still* sinless and pure and righteous. Not a sinner.
4) My Implication: Once they sin again, they are then a sinner and impure and unrighteous and must be cleansed again by confessing that sin to cleans their unrighteousness.
5) My Implication: A humble and contrite heart willing to confess their sin as soon as committed is walking in light. So cleansing comes to one whose heart wants to do right by God.
I was not implying that we tally a list for later to confess, yet it sounds like you interpret 1 John 1:9 as we must confess each specific sin that we commit as we commit them as an additional requirement to remain cleansed and if we forget one, we're toast! Believers are convicted of sin, yet sin is not always what we do, but also what we fail to do. It's not a revolving door of cleansed, uncleansed, then cleansed again until we confess each specific sin in prayer then asked to be forgiven all over again. How many believers have a list of exactly how many sins they have committed? The primary Greek word for "confess" is homologeo which basically means "to say the same thing" and then "agree, admit, acknowledge." Genuine believers do this, even though they are unable to tally each specific sin they have ever committed.
1 John 3:7 is not talking about doesn't do right and isn't righteous anymore. John is giving a description of children of the devil and children of God. 1 John 3:7 - Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; (believers do not practice righteousness in order to become righteousness, but BECAUSE they are righteous) 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Now in regards to walking in darkness:
1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light (descriptive of genuine believers) as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Walking in darkness is descriptive of children of the devil. Walking in the light is descriptive of children of God. *Only those who are saved/believers are in the light.
Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
Ephesians 5:8 - for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Children of the devil walk in darkness, not in the light. Children of God walk in the light, not in darkness. IF confirms these positions in verses 6 and 7. It's one or the other.
In 1 John 2:9, we read - He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
*Compare with 1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (compare with 1 John 1:6 - does not practice the truth) nor is he who does not love his brother. *Notice that walks in darkness, hates his brother is connected to children of the devil.
John is not focusing on confessing every single sin that we commit as we commit them as an additional requirement to get cleansed all over again each time we sin and if we forget a sin, we're toast, but has in mind here a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness. Notice that verse 8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Verse 10 says, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" is in CONTRAST TO - if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This isn't about remaining sinless in order to maintain our salvation (remain cleansed) and if we mess up we lose our salvation all over again (need to be cleansed all over again).
We are pure and righteous because of the blood of Christ (Acts 15:9; 1 John 1:7) not because we "in of ourselves" are sinless.
I disagree. It's not about a revolving door of cleansed then uncleansed all over again each time we sin and confess each specific sin and if we forget one, we're toast!
A humble and contrite heart is willing to confess their sins "say the same thing/agree, admit, acknowledge" to God as soon as committed, yet how many of us keep a specific inventory of every sin that we have ever committed? My implication is that you are close to turning confession into salvation by works - "confess each specific sin out load and pray for forgiveness and if you forget a sin, you're toast!"
1 John 3:7 is not talking about doesn't do right and isn't righteous anymore. John is giving a description of children of the devil and children of God. 1 John 3:7 - Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; (believers do not practice righteousness in order to become righteousness, but BECAUSE they are righteous) 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Now in regards to walking in darkness:
1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light (descriptive of genuine believers) as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Walking in darkness is descriptive of children of the devil. Walking in the light is descriptive of children of God. *Only those who are saved/believers are in the light.
Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
Ephesians 5:8 - for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light. Children of the devil walk in darkness, not in the light. Children of God walk in the light, not in darkness. IF confirms these positions in verses 6 and 7. It's one or the other.
In 1 John 2:9, we read - He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. In vs. 11 - But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
*Compare with 1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (compare with 1 John 1:6 - does not practice the truth) nor is he who does not love his brother. *Notice that walks in darkness, hates his brother is connected to children of the devil.
John is not focusing on confessing every single sin that we commit as we commit them as an additional requirement to get cleansed all over again each time we sin and if we forget a sin, we're toast, but has in mind here a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness. Notice that verse 8 says, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Verse 10 says, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" is in CONTRAST TO - if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This isn't about remaining sinless in order to maintain our salvation (remain cleansed) and if we mess up we lose our salvation all over again (need to be cleansed all over again).
We are pure and righteous because of the blood of Christ (Acts 15:9; 1 John 1:7) not because we "in of ourselves" are sinless.
I disagree. It's not about a revolving door of cleansed then uncleansed all over again each time we sin and confess each specific sin and if we forget one, we're toast!
A humble and contrite heart is willing to confess their sins "say the same thing/agree, admit, acknowledge" to God as soon as committed, yet how many of us keep a specific inventory of every sin that we have ever committed? My implication is that you are close to turning confession into salvation by works - "confess each specific sin out load and pray for forgiveness and if you forget a sin, you're toast!"
Well said mailmandan.
Combine what you said in post #15 with the fact that if we had to continually confess every sin "in order" to be forgiven of sin once we are in Christ and Christ is in us - then you would think that Paul would have mentioned it at least once in his 13 books.
Think about it. If our "fellowship" is totally dependent on the confessing of sin "in order" to get that fellowship back and receive the forgiveness of that sin - you would think that Paul would have this plastered all over his writings. There are none. Not one.
He says that in Him - we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.
Confessing ( which means to say the same thing) is a good thing when talking with the Lord. There are 2 sides to that coin.
Confessing can mean to speak the truths that God says about us in Christ ( such as you are the righteousness of God in Christ ) as well as seeking grace for things that we do in our times of bad behavior that is not reflecting the true love and life of Christ that is in us in our new creation in Christ.
Combine what you said in post #15 with the fact that if we had to continually confess every sin "in order" to be forgiven of sin once we are in Christ and Christ is in us - then you would think that Paul would have mentioned it at least once in his 13 books.
Think about it. If our "fellowship" is totally dependent on the confessing of sin "in order" to get that fellowship back and receive the forgiveness of that sin - you would think that Paul would have this plastered all over his writings. There are none. Not one.
He says that in Him - we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.
Confessing ( which means to say the same thing) is a good thing when talking with the Lord. There are 2 sides to that coin.
Confessing can mean to speak the truths that God says about us in Christ ( such as you are the righteousness of God in Christ ) as well as seeking grace for things that we do in our times of bad behavior that is not reflecting the true love and life of Christ that is in us in our new creation in Christ.
