John is writing to Christians. (1 John 1:9) is for Christians who sin. It is not a picture of coming to Christ as Lords and Saviour. I believe I was clear that it is speaking to our walk, our santification. You're the one that keeps crossing over from justification to sanctification. I never said anything about confessing our sins in order to be saved. The false gospel you speak of is not from me.
Well, John says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. Seems to me that is forgiveness due to confession.
Quantrill
That is where you err, 1 John 2 is "for Christians who sin", as John specifically says "my little children" and then goes on to say "if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." John even points out that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. Even later, a couple verses down (1 John 2:12), he says that "your sins are forgiven for His name's sake." None of this has to do with sin confession for forgiveness (as a habitual practice) but the reality of the remission of sins through the blood of Christ.
How could John say to people that their sins
are forgiven if he doesn't know if they've confessed their sins or not? How could he even begin to make that statement?
John was correcting error, and this is why later on it says that some left "because they were not of us" and even says in another place that they were trying to be seduced. His example of a person claiming to be without sin (ever in their life) is not representative of believers in Christ making this statement, he even says that such a person is not of the truth and makes God out to be a liar. He then offers the remedy to such a person, who is not of the truth, who is making God out to be a liar, and that is to confess their sin. Which would be to admit that they have in fact sinned in their life, are not without sin (for all fall short of God's glory) and are in need of God's forgiveness (which is provided in Christ).
If you read 1 John 1, you'll also notice something interesting. John is inviting someone into the fellowship (1 John 1:3) that he has with the Father and Son. He is declaring something to them, and in verses one and two he is describing Jesus. An invitation to the fellowship he has with the Lord.
You'll find no mention of sin confession for forgiveness in the rest of the epistles (confession to God). Its not even mentioned once when you properly understand 1 John 1:9. It is recorded in the OT, with King David, Yet, we are in a new covenant and in this covenant there are truths that would make it redundant to ask for forgiveness (blood of Christ, Jesus as an atonement, propitiation, remission, Jesus as High Priest, covenant whereby God remembers our sins no more, etc).
I am glad that you place its importance under sanctification, and not justification. Yet that is the understanding many people propagate, that sin confession somehow maintains salvation. As I said, another gospel. It is in opposition to Jesus Christ and Him crucified.