1 John 1:8-10

[jackflash101]

Can someone help me out?

Does 1 Jn 1:9 tell us to apologize to God and seek His forgiveness each and every time we sin, or is it saying that we do so and get cleansed (once and for all) when we get saved?

It seems that asking for His forgiveness all the time is asking for something we already possess, like righteousness and salvation.

Along those lines, I tend to think vs 8 and 10 refer to someone who is an unbeliever, since they claim to have no sin. Thoughts?

 

[Jack Koons]

Can someone help me out?

Does 1 Jn 1:9 tell us to apologize to God and seek His forgiveness each and every time we sin, or is it saying that we do so and get cleansed (once and for all) when we get saved?

It seems that asking for His forgiveness all the time is asking for something we already possess, like righteousness and salvation.

Along those lines, I tend to think vs 8 and 10 refer to someone who is an unbeliever, since they claim to have no sin. Thoughts?

Greetings jackflash,

In short, 1 John 1:8 & 9 deals with our Heavenly Father. There are actually three aspects of 'salvation': 1) The penalty of sin (deliverance of the soul from eternal damnation); 2) The power of sin (deliverance from the conquering power of sin, because we live in a sinful world); and 3) The presence of sin (deliverance of our complete being, from the very presence of sin, in the eternal state).

1 John 1:8 & 9 deals with the second point above. Briefly; when we our born into our earthly family, though we are joined through a blood relationship, actions we often do, offend other members of our family. By asking confessing, and asking for forgiveness, the harmony of our relationship is maintained. Likewise, by confessing our daily sins to our Heavenly Father, keeps our relationship with Him in harmony.

I hope this is helpful.

Jack

 

[Maranatha27]

Hi Jack, This epistle is written to those in Christ, not to those on the outside. We still sin as believers, and these verses are for us. Linked with this closely is the washing of the water of the Word

 

[Gregory Thompson]

i was reminded of how the elders of Israel would confess the unsolved murder on behalf of the defiled land though no one responsible could be found .. so perhaps it applies to unbelievers if you confess their sins as your own to diffuse the darkness in the air . otherwise the passage applies to yourself to diffuse the affects of sin as a supernatural force .

 

[Steeno7]

Can someone help me out?

Does 1 Jn 1:9 tell us to apologize to God and seek His forgiveness each and every time we sin, or is it saying that we do so and get cleansed (once and for all) when we get saved?

It seems that asking for His forgiveness all the time is asking for something we already possess, like righteousness and salvation.

Along those lines, I tend to think vs 8 and 10 refer to someone who is an unbeliever, since they claim to have no sin. Thoughts?

To understand 1st John one must recognize that John is writing to Christians, but about an opponent. Opponents who are making certain claims and preaching certain heretical teachings that John is refuting. He has no doubt of the condition of those he is writing to, as he makes clear many times throughout.

The clearest answer to the confession conundrum, is found in the latter part of 1 John 1:9…”to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He is speaking to those who are unrighteous, people who have not come to know Christ yet, since those who know Christ are the “righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21). As he says in 2:12, we are forgiven of our sins...and not because we keep ourselves 'fessed' up, but on account of His name.

 

[Jack Koons]

Hi Jack, This epistle is written to those in Christ, not to those on the outside. We still sin as believers, and these verses are for us. Linked with this closely is the washing of the water of the Word

I believe my first post, may have been misunderstood;

I previously stated, "In short, 1 John 1:8 & 9 deals with our Heavenly Father. There are actually three aspects of 'salvation': 1) The penalty of sin (deliverance of the soul from eternal damnation); 2) The power of sin (deliverance from the conquering power of sin, because we live in a sinful world); and 3) The presence of sin (deliverance of our complete being, from the very presence of sin, in the eternal state)."

The first aspect of salvation (dealing with the 'penalty' of sin), is having the finished work of Christ (the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, according to the scriptures), imputed to our account with God, so that, we receive atonement. Hence, we no longer judicially stand in condemnation, having received the first aspect of salvation, being placed in Christ.

The second aspect of salvation begins, the moment we receive atonement. Upon receiving atonement, while we are judicially no longer condemned, we are still under the influence, and conquering power of sin, because our soul still abides in a sinful, fleshly, body. Therefore, through the continued work of the Holy Spirit, God the Father uses the Word to guide, strengthen, and deliver us, from the power of sin. This second aspect of salvation continues until we meet physical death, or are taken up when Christ returns for His own; which ever comes first.

An added note: once we are 'taken up' to be with Christ, our corruptible bodies will put on incorruption. Although, our bodies will be glorified, and we will sin no more; this power is not of our own, it it given to us through Christ. Therefore, technically, until we are transported 'permanently' into the eternal realm with Christ, we are still partaking in the second aspect of salvation.

Finally, the third aspect of salvation takes place when Christ takes us into the eternal realm with Him, where the presence of sin, is no more.

Jack

 

[jackflash101]

Yes! Kind of what I thought it was about.