1 John 1:5-10
Yes I think it's important to keep the context.
Note that John's first thought in this passage is about walking in light vs. walking in darkness...
Point 1: We can't claim we're followers of God and yet still do evil. We're lying if we do.
Point 2: IF we (really) walk in light Christ's blood
purifies us FROM ALL sin.
The word "purified" means "cleansed; extracted; removed; no longer present."
Then John's next thought focuses directly on sin, supporting his first thought...
Point 3: We can't claim to have no sin TO CLEANSE (in context), and if we do claim that we're lying.
Point 4: IF we confess our sins THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE (in context), those sins are
purified.
The word "purified" means "cleansed; extracted; removed; no longer present."
So John is pointing out the process of "walking in light" that can't be shortcut:
A) We acknowledge our sin
B) We confess those sins
C) Those sins are REMOVED from us...forever.
John is not saying from his letter that one who says they don't continue to sin are liars. He isn't saying that. In context, he's saying anyone who say they've *never* sinned CAN'T POSSIBLY follow this process. They can't even START it, and so still have their sins upon them.
Now what Simiel is getting at - that others are misunderstanding - is the stage when a believer has reached
Step C after truly walking in the light (and remaining in that light through nothing less than the power of God's Holy Spirit). That believer acknowledges their sin, that believer has confessed their sin, that believer is given the Holy Spirit to walk in righteousness (and
not sin anymore), so that believer's sins are no longer present upon them. Purified.