Hi,
A fellow Christian posted the below interpretation on scripture John on our local forum.
I don't agree to one of the interpretation but I could be wrong, So I need other's opinion.
I am reposting what he had posted in full to prevent any 'missing info', or taken out of context. The part which I did not agree is in paragraph 11 - in bold (for those who find its too long to read through).
1 John 1:7 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Good Morning Fellow Believers.
The Bible is written mainly for believers of Christ, especially in the New Testament. However, not every parts was addressed for the believers, some are for the Jews, the Pharisees, the Gnostics, etc. It is just like in any Church setting, the pastor will preach to the congregation consisting of believers and unbelievers, so sometime he/she will mention things specifically to unbelievers, most of the time to believers. We cannot say everything is for the believers, that is not dividing the word of God properly.
The very first chapter of 1 John 1 was written for the attention of the Gnostic Believers. Whereas the rest of the book are for the Believers of Christ. This was made very clearly in the 2nd chapter When the apostle John use the word "My Dear Children...." which refers to believers of Christ.
Why is this important? Gnostics don't believe Jesus came in the Flesh. Gnosticism also believes only the Spirit part of the person is entirely good and thus cannot be tainted with Sin, they believe the tangible part is entirely evil; hence the Body can be subjected to sin and thus they also believe the body was to be treated harshly.
With that being said; 1 John 1:9 was specifically addressed to the gnostic because of obvious reason. In the early part of this chapter, Apostle John was declaring to the Gnostic, this same Jesus came in the flesh, because they have seen with their eyes and touched with their hands (1 John 1:1), something they didn't believe in. Gnostics believe Jesus came only in the spirit.
Why is this important? Because there's a teaching in 1 John 1:9-10 (NIV) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
...citing that verse they will say... See? believers can have sin in their life and lose their salvation and if we don't confess to forgive our sins, we're in the danger to fall into eternal damnation.
But UW, isn't that what it say? No, read
1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Do you know what is the meaning of "I'm writing to you dear children" and the meaning "Have Been"? This was written specifically to Christians to let us know all our Sin(Past, Present & Future) HAS BEEN forgiven. Past Tense. ALREADY FORGIVEN.
Actually if you read 1 John 1:7, Apostle John was telling the Gnostics that if we walk in the Light (not according to the light..meaning "doing"). Walking in the Light means walking IN the Light of Christ ...seeing the perfect beauty of what Christ has done on the cross to send away all our sin).........the Blood of Jesus is a consistent 24/7 washing away ALL SINS !!!!! Hence the Light Christ Shine on you to show you HOW CLEAN YOU ARE, NOT HOW DIRTY YOU ARE!
BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN...forgive others, do the right thing, walk in love, don't hate your brothers, don't sin. Don't live a contradictory lifestyle because you don't belong to Darkness, You belong to the Light. If you walk in darkness, you only LIE to yourself because your NEW DEFAULT Position is LIGHT. (1 john 1:6-7, 1 John 2:3-11)
Read everything in context. Don't allow them to use this verse to hoodwink you, out of the Salvation of Christ that is by Grace! Even the apostle John wanted to assures us in 1 John 2:1-2; EVEN IF we sin..we have an advocate with the Father. Advocate here is like a Lawyer but This Lawyer is divine and has paid the price with his Blood, death and sacrifice! He will Fight for you to save guard your Salvation that He came to Gave!
God Bless.
Can one interpret 'HAVE BEEN' to include the 'FUTURE' too?
I sincerely hope that someone can enlighten me if the interpretation is correct.
Thank you for your time.
A fellow Christian posted the below interpretation on scripture John on our local forum.
I don't agree to one of the interpretation but I could be wrong, So I need other's opinion.
I am reposting what he had posted in full to prevent any 'missing info', or taken out of context. The part which I did not agree is in paragraph 11 - in bold (for those who find its too long to read through).
1 John 1:7 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Good Morning Fellow Believers.
The Bible is written mainly for believers of Christ, especially in the New Testament. However, not every parts was addressed for the believers, some are for the Jews, the Pharisees, the Gnostics, etc. It is just like in any Church setting, the pastor will preach to the congregation consisting of believers and unbelievers, so sometime he/she will mention things specifically to unbelievers, most of the time to believers. We cannot say everything is for the believers, that is not dividing the word of God properly.
The very first chapter of 1 John 1 was written for the attention of the Gnostic Believers. Whereas the rest of the book are for the Believers of Christ. This was made very clearly in the 2nd chapter When the apostle John use the word "My Dear Children...." which refers to believers of Christ.
Why is this important? Gnostics don't believe Jesus came in the Flesh. Gnosticism also believes only the Spirit part of the person is entirely good and thus cannot be tainted with Sin, they believe the tangible part is entirely evil; hence the Body can be subjected to sin and thus they also believe the body was to be treated harshly.
With that being said; 1 John 1:9 was specifically addressed to the gnostic because of obvious reason. In the early part of this chapter, Apostle John was declaring to the Gnostic, this same Jesus came in the flesh, because they have seen with their eyes and touched with their hands (1 John 1:1), something they didn't believe in. Gnostics believe Jesus came only in the spirit.
Why is this important? Because there's a teaching in 1 John 1:9-10 (NIV) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
...citing that verse they will say... See? believers can have sin in their life and lose their salvation and if we don't confess to forgive our sins, we're in the danger to fall into eternal damnation.
But UW, isn't that what it say? No, read
1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Do you know what is the meaning of "I'm writing to you dear children" and the meaning "Have Been"? This was written specifically to Christians to let us know all our Sin(Past, Present & Future) HAS BEEN forgiven. Past Tense. ALREADY FORGIVEN.
Actually if you read 1 John 1:7, Apostle John was telling the Gnostics that if we walk in the Light (not according to the light..meaning "doing"). Walking in the Light means walking IN the Light of Christ ...seeing the perfect beauty of what Christ has done on the cross to send away all our sin).........the Blood of Jesus is a consistent 24/7 washing away ALL SINS !!!!! Hence the Light Christ Shine on you to show you HOW CLEAN YOU ARE, NOT HOW DIRTY YOU ARE!
BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN...forgive others, do the right thing, walk in love, don't hate your brothers, don't sin. Don't live a contradictory lifestyle because you don't belong to Darkness, You belong to the Light. If you walk in darkness, you only LIE to yourself because your NEW DEFAULT Position is LIGHT. (1 john 1:6-7, 1 John 2:3-11)
Read everything in context. Don't allow them to use this verse to hoodwink you, out of the Salvation of Christ that is by Grace! Even the apostle John wanted to assures us in 1 John 2:1-2; EVEN IF we sin..we have an advocate with the Father. Advocate here is like a Lawyer but This Lawyer is divine and has paid the price with his Blood, death and sacrifice! He will Fight for you to save guard your Salvation that He came to Gave!
God Bless.
Can one interpret 'HAVE BEEN' to include the 'FUTURE' too?
I sincerely hope that someone can enlighten me if the interpretation is correct.
Thank you for your time.
