1st John 1:8-10, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
A religious man at a job I worked years ago, tried to convince me that our text passage of Scripture only applies to unsaved people. The guy claimed that since a believer's sins were already forgiven at the time of salvation, we don't need to confess our sins as God's children. He was wrong! Although our POSITION was forever settled the moment we got saved, our CONDITION needs to be continually maintained. Proof that this verse does not apply to unsaved people is that we don't get saved by confessing our sins, but by believing on the name of the Son of God (John 20:31). The reason why God can forgive a believer simply by confessing, is because we are already saved. Confessing is simply getting right with God, agreeing with the Lord concerning our sins. The lost man is still under the condemnation of God's Old Testament law. He needs God's New Testament grace, which is obtained only through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:24-26; Philippians 3:9).
As a believer our sins have all been washed away by the blood of Jesus, judicially speaking. The old account was settled long ago! Amen! So in God's sight, as far as our POSITION in Christ is concerned, we are right with God on the basis of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and not by the life we live. Once saved, always saved (OSAS). But when we sin as God's children, our fellowship with the Lord is broken until we get right with God. 1st John 1:6, “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.”
Carefully notice that the topic here is FELLOWSHIP, not SONSHIP. If we live in willful sin as believers, we are not walking in sweet fellowship with the Lord, which limits God's blessings in our life. Until we confess (agree with God) concerning the awfulness of the sins in our life, and we depart from evil (premeditated sinning), we cannot be right with God as His child. Please understand that this has nothing to do with salvation. In fact, you CAN receive God's free gift of eternal life without forsaking the sins in your life. That must be true if it is to truly remain a free gift (Romans 5:15-18; 6:23; Ephesians 2:9-10).
A saved person still has to confess sin, because our flesh wants to rebel against the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 7:14-25). We all sometimes get out of harmony with God, like a terrible sounding chord played on a musical instrument. A major chord sounds crisp and in perfect harmony. But if you add a bunch of off notes, playing some strange sound, it will be offensive to the ear. The object of the Christian life is to keep our heart in sweet harmonic tune with the Word of God (John 17:17). When we hit those off chords, we need to confess, agreeing with God so that our life can return to sweet harmony with the Word of God.
That is exactly what the Bible means in Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” If we keep our life in tune with the inspired Word of God (King James Bible), walking in sweet fellowship with the dear Savior, then God promises to guide our paths. We must choose our individual steps, but God will direct our paths. In other words, God's Word will point us in the right direction, if we fear God to heed instruction!!!
I like what my dear pastor said last night in his Wednesday evening sermon. He said, “Keep a short sin account with God.” I like that. In other words, stay confessed up. Don't allow too much time after you sin, to go to the Lord and confess your sins to make things right. 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.” God will ALWAYS be faithful and fair to forgive our sins. Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”
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