Confession

" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I John 1:9 

 We know that none of us live without sin. After close examination it is evident that we still sin even after conversion. After all, the entire book of I John is about examining ourselves and reaffirming that we are in the faith. In verse eight of this chapter we see that no one is without sin and to say such makes that person a liar and without truth. But we struggle with these thoughts and understanding God's way. Do we lose our salvation when we sin after conversion? Has the glory of being in God's presence slipped through our fingers because of one sin we commit? Must Jesus die again for for our iniquity? Thankfully, no! Scripture tells us that Jesus died once for all who look to Him and believe for all of time, from the foundations of the world to the very last breath that will be taken on this planet.

So what is this manner of confession? It is not strictly toward our brothers in grace or to the head of your local assembly other than that which is specifically against them that would cause the fellowship to cease. Instead, we are to consistently confess our sins to God because all sins are rebellion against Him and a trespass against His holiness. We confess to God not only because we are commanded to, that we may be in fellowship, but also so that we may be humbled before God rightfully acknowledging His complete sovereignty even if we don't understand it. And this isn't necessarily a general request of forgiveness as a blanket to cover our sins at the end of the day, week, month, year, or lifetime. The proper application here is that we confess every sin we know. We acknowledge our evil against the Almighty because we cannot bear to be removed from His fellowship. 

And what is the result of this confession? It is that our sins are forgiven because He is faithful and just to do so and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This isn't concerning the sacrifice of Christ directly as a matter of salvation but those whom the blood has been applied. God is just in forgiving their sins because justice was already served upon Christ and His righteousness covers the believer who has been made alive in spirit and can come before the throne of God in prayer. The unconverted have no part in this due to the fact that they are dead in their trespasses and sins. They have not been drawn to Christ and His blood not applied on their behalf. This is how we know that God is faithful and just, because He does forgive the sins of His children when we confess and repent because the absence of His presence, that of the Holy Spirit during this life, is a great grievance for us. Thus His cleansing us is necessary time and time again until this body dies to the curse and our spirits can enjoy the true presence of our Savior in Glory. 

Dear children of the living God, do not be weary when we fail our Father. In His love and mercy He has provided a way of reconciliation and it is that we confess our sins to Him and He will forgive and cleanse us by giving us repentance from the sins and a heart that loves Him and His commands. What a mighty and wonderful God!

Consider also: Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 32

Deceiving Ourselves

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 

I John 1:8 

Jesus Christ died for the ungodly and His righteousness covers all those believe that He is the only begotten Son of the living God who bore His wrath upon the cross in our stead. Though this covering of Jesus' righteousness upon us separates us from the bondage of sin, frees us from the guilt of sin, and removes the burden of bearing the immense weight of our sin, it does not cause our sinning to cease. Our bodies were formed under a curse that they should die and though the righteousness of Jesus cover our souls He has not unjustly removed our bodies from that judgement. God, while greatly merciful and gracious, is still holy and thus while our perfected souls will one day be able to stand in fellowship in His presence by the blood of Jesus our corrupt bodies must still perish because of sin. We cannot, by the very existence of our remaining on this earth, say that we have no sin.

To say that we are perfect and without sin is a lie. It is deceptive not only to ourselves but to those around us. We may rightly say that we are not living in a particular sin, or that we do not go about practicing sin (our actions will confirm this), but we can never in this life say that we have no sin. Who among us can say there are no thoughts that creep into our minds that we dwell on till sin is conceived be it lust for money, power, sex, or property? Who among us has not looked upon our neighbors belongs and coveted for anything of his, even after conversion? Who among us has not gone a day without an action of some kind great or small confirming that sin remains in this present life? Isn't this the plight of the Christian? We are not bound to sin because Jesus has freed us. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30). When He has cleansed our spirits and washed away our sin with His blood we earnestly desire to put away sin and bring our flesh into subjection because we desire to be like Him.

God is truth and truth must be in us for us to be in fellowship with Him. Dear children of the living God, do not deceive yourselves into believing that the activity of sin has yet passed from us. We are not yet perfect in glory with the Father and until we are we must remember that our fleshly bodies, and those of our brothers in faith, are not yet without sin. And understanding that we know and can say that the truth is in us because of Jesus.

Worse Than Hypocrites

 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

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." - I John 1:6,7

There is a great danger for those who say they have fellowship with God but live a life which practices sin. God plainly says these people liars. They are worse than just mere hypocrites. Rather than being backslidden or simply of little faith they, instead, abhor the fellowship of God, His Word, and his church. These people say they love God but are living in sin and loving it; proving they really do not know Him. They lie and truth is not in them.

Dear child of the living God, if we walk in the spirit minding holy things as God is holy then we truly have fellowship with Him. And what is sweeter than to be in good favor with God? Nothing is greater than knowing the blood of Jesus has cleansed you from all of your sin and being able to enjoy the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Remember, though, it is not because of what you have done but what Jesus did on the cross that we have this wonderful union with the Father and Son.

Beware of falling in the midst of those liars who claim to be in God's favor but are clearly living in the pleasures of sin. There are far greater pleasures provided by our holy God through the righteousness of Jesus!

Consider also: Philippians 4:8; II Corinthians 4:1-6; II Corinthians 6:14-18

God Is Light

"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."

- I John 1:5

There is a message that needs to be delivered to all men continuously, that God is light and in him there is no darkness. On the surface we see the blessings that the purity of God provide to His children But we often overlook what that purity meant to us before conversion, and still means for the unbeliever. 

Remember, dear one, that there is no darkness in God. Because God is pure, evil cannot stand in His presence. And on the day of judgment when every knee is bent and head bowed in reverence to Him all sinners will be cast away into the Lake of Fire. This is an uncomfortable truth to many because it shows our feeble state before the Holy One. But it is truth nonetheless.

But God, in His mercy and grace, supplied His Son Jesus to be the propitiation for the sins of many. For those who are drawn to Jesus this truth is wonderful. That His righteousness will cover their sins so that they may stand in the presence of God: not of their own works or strength, but of the finished work of Jesus. Sin is seen as grievous to them and it loses all of its vain appeal in the light of God's purity. Dear saint, remember always that there is joy in the purity of God and it is ours because of our fellowship with Him.

Consider also: John 1:1-5; John 3:14-21; Acts 26:22,23