[Maximum Joy Series] Dealing With DarknessSample

The Correction of the 2nd Error: Confession (1:9)

In his letter, the apostle John corrects the second improper response (to deny that we have a sin(ful) nature after we become Christians) with the corresponding truth. 

The Correction: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1:9).

If we want to enjoy and live in fellowship with a God who is Light, then we need to confess our sins. To confess means to agree, to recognize our wrongdoing. As clear and simple as that. Now, let us dig deeper. 

The word “our” in the phrase “if we confess our sins” is not literally in the text. In Greek, the word used here is our English term “the.” It is used to specify something. It is the specific sins I know about which break fellowship between God and me. The awareness of our offenses breaks fellowship with our loving Father. 

If we confess these (specific) sins that we are aware of, God is faithful and just to forgive. Again, the word John uses here in the Greek for forgive is never used in the Gospel of John speaking of the relationship between man and God. For John, forgiveness is personal, not judicial. In this case, it deals with fellowship, not relationship. Our eternal relationship with God (Father/child) is one of the reasons He will always forgive us because He is just–we were declared righteous in the court of heaven for all time.

The question that arises from this beautiful truth is, How can God forgive over and over for the same sin? Do you ever feel crashed by the awareness of your sin and even embarrassed to go to God in prayer once more to ask for His forgiveness? My dear brother and sister, your Father is waiting for you with open arms. It is in His nature to forgive. Remember that in the same verse (v.9) John says that God is faithful and just to forgive. Oh, what a wonderful description of our loving Father this is! God is faithful, He has promised to forgive, and His forgiveness for our fellowship is based on His forgiveness for our relationship. 

The final promise in verse nine is what I call the cherry on top. True confession allows us to receive forgiveness from all unrighteousness. You may be asking yourself, What do you mean? Haven’t you said that if I confess the specific sins, I am forgiven? The answer to your question is, “Yes you are.” But, “all unrighteousness” refers to all the rest of the sinfulness and sins you are not aware of. God sees all my sin, and when I confess He not only forgives me of the sin I am aware of, He also cleanses me from all the sins in my life that I am not aware of. Can you rejoice together with me? Our Heavenly Father is willing to forgive all sin.