Seems like every topic always brings up more topics...But the idea that we have to confess every sin to stay justified, is a teaching that came from the RCC...where they controlled the people by first placing them under the parts of the law and all sorts of rules and religious duties to always keep them in a condition of guilt and shame and falsely place themselves as the ones having power to forgive these things... Its called power and control and sad to say many are still using this sort of control in the churches today... The preacher gains control over the people as he makes them feel more and more guilt... Then is rather easy to demand they give money and service to his cause... Having said that... The apostle Paul NEVER taught confession of individual sins, but that we admit our sinful condition in the flesh (which is the testimony and purpose of the law) This is the same thing John is teaching...but with a sure promise that when our conscience becomes defiled, we can know that we have forgiveness of all sin.... In fact John is speaking to little children...babes in Christ , who do not understand the "word of righteousness" ...Now I say always keep your conscience clear before the Lord and this great promise will always be there for us when we sin... But it is not a conditional commandment that requires a legalistic confession of every sin... One also needs to understand...that we are not under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ...that our sins are sins against love and faith...not the written code of the law
