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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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).
3) My Implication: If they haven't yet sinned again, they are *still* sinless and pure and righteous. Not a sinner.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!"