1st John 1:9. Repent of Sin?

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John was speaking to a Church filled with unbelievers in 1st John.

John exposes Gnosticism a Heretical Counterfeit Christianity.

Gnosticism was a False Teaching going around which Denied the Deity of Jesus Christ. They Denied Jesus was God. They Denied the Gospel. Jesus suffered in the flesh for mankind. Jesus paid for the Sins of the World  Died was Buried and He Rose again on the 3rd day. They Denied the Existence of Sin.

Many variations in beliefs existed among the different Gnostic sects.

Dualism: Gnostics believed that the world was divided into the physical and spiritual realms. The created, material world (matter) is evil. Is in opposition to the world of the spirit. Only the spirit is good. Adherents of Gnosticism often constructed an evil, lesser god. And beings of the Old Testament to explain the creation of the world. They considered Jesus Christ a lessor god.

God: Gnostic writings often describe God as incomprehensible and unknowable. This idea conflicts with Christianity’s concept of a personal God who desires a relationship with human beings. Gnostics also separate the inferior god of creation from the superior god of redemption.

Salvation: Gnosticism claims hidden knowledge as the basis for Salvation. Adherents believe that Secret Revelation frees the “divine spark” within humans. Allowing the human soul to return to the divine realm of light in which it belongs. Gnostics, thus, divided Christians into two categories. With one group being Carnal (Inferior) and the other being Spiritual (Superior).

Only the Superior, Divinely Enlightened persons could comprehend the Secret Teachings and obtain True Salvation. This is very similar to Calvinism’s denial that Man has a Free Will. In both Religions mankind is incapable of the Free Will to Accept Jesus. Or to Deny Jesus as their Savior.

Christianity Teaches:

Salvation is available to everyone. Not just A Special Selected Few. Salvation comes from Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ Alone. Not from human effort, Works. The only source of Truth is the Bible.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Gnosticism was infiltrating the early church.

The church John was writing to had Gnostic believers in the church. Who were actively trying to deceive people.

1st John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1st John Refutes the False Teaching that Sin does not Exist.

In 1st John 1:5-10, John is addressing people who don’t believe in the existence of sin. 

1st John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Two key verses that gives context to 1st John 1:9

1st John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

1st John 1:9 is not teaching Repent of Sin to be Saved, to Stay Saved. It is teaching that people who Deny they are Sinners are Lost. To Confess Sin is just Admitting that you are in fact a Sinner.

Confess / Confessing, Meaning

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

(vs. 9) Confessing with the mouth the Lord Jesus is to say: “Yes I Stand with Jesus. I Believe in Jesus.” Confess / Confession means to Acknowledge something. To Admit / Acknowledge that you are a Sinner. To Confess, Acknowledge that you are a Believer in Jesus. A public Confession is not mentioned, is not Required. These Confessions are to Jesus. They are a Prayer, a Conversation between you and Jesus.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(vs. 10) You have to Ask Jesus to Save you. Again a Confession is a simple Acknowledgment. YOU MUST ACKNOWLEDGE TO JESUS THAT YOU BELIEVE IN HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR, to be SAVE.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

(vs. 13) To Call on the name of the Lord is a Prayer to Jesus. The only way to talk with Jesus is by Praying to Jesus.

Review

1st John was written to a Church filled with Lost Gnostic’s. Who were corrupting the Church with False Teachings: Jesus is not God. Sin Does Not Exist, You Cannot Sin. The Gospel is a Lie.

A person who does  believe they Sin, that deny the existence of Sin Cannot be Saved. This False Belief undermines the Gospel by removing a need for a Savior. If there is No Sin then there is no need for a Savior. 

Why would you call upon a Savior that you don’t believe you need?

If you don’t believe in Sin then you don’t believe you need the Blood of Jesus to Cleanse you from Sin. You do not need his Death, Burial and Resurrection to Save you.

This is the description of those who are walking in the Darkness of a Lie. If they were to come into the light by Confessing / Acknowledging their Sin to Jesus. Their Belief in Him, in the Gospel to Save them. Then Jesus would Save them. His Blood would Cleanse them of their Sin.

1st John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light 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.”

1st John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus cleansed us from “All” Sin.

Keeping the Law Saved no one. The Law showed mankind that they were Sinners. It showed that Sin caused Death. That the Forgiveness of Sin would require a one time perfect Blood Sacrifice which the Scripture foretold. The Scriptures taught the Messiah would come to Save them from their Sins, Isaiah 53.

Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Jesus Christ’s One Sacrifice was Enough to Completely Remove All Your Sins for All of Time.

If you Believe in Jesus: Acknowledge Him As Your Savior / Confess You ARE A SINNER to Jesus in Prayer, Asking Jesus to Save you. Jesus will immediately Save you.

1 John 1:7 – 9 are clear references to someone who is Lost. That if they would Acknowledge their Sin and their Need for Jesus as their Savior. God who is Faithful would then Forgive them. And Cleanse them of All of their Sins. Forgiven for all time!

Jesus is our Advocate. 1st John 2:1-2 says: 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

That, when you do Sin you have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

An Advocate is someone who speaks on your behalf and pleads your innocence. Jesus Christ is the perfect one to do this for us because in Him we have become perfect. Jesus Blood has removed All our Sin for all time.

Therefore No Sin can ever be counted against us. We have a new legal status in Christ that says “Not Guilty”, “Not Condemned.” Jesus is our Advocate our Defense that pleads our legal status, Not Guilty.

So, 1st John 1:9 Simply means: In order for a person to call on Jesus Christ as their Savior to be Born Again they must first Acknowledge that they are a Sinner that needs Jesus as their Savior. Once they do that then He is faithful to forgive them and cleanse them of all unrighteousness.

If you read the entire Book of 1st John. You will understand what 1st John 1:9 is saying.

1st John makes verse 1:9 clear. It is Abundantly clear that it is not saying to a Believer that they have to be continually Forgiven and Cleansed of their Sins Daily.

Since this completely undermines what the Book of 1st John is saying. It tears out the very heart of the Gospel. The One Time Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for All Sin. It is a Salvation verse to unbelievers who do not Believe in Sin and therefore do not cry out to Jesus to be their Savior to Forgive and Cleanse them of All Sin.