1 John 1:9 - "If We Confess Our Sins..."

First John 1:9 is one of the most abused passages in the New Testament. This verse tells us that if we confess our sins God will forgive us. The abuse comes from a few who insist that sins are forgiven ONLY when they are specifically or verbally confessed. The consequence to such thinking is that honest Christians can have no confidence that their sins are forgiven (and therefore that they are in the grace of God) unless they "think" they have no sin, i.e., that they are living above sin. The absurdity of this position is easily seen by simply reading the context-passages before and after verse 9. Let's look at the context together:

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

The intent of the teaching of the passage (1 John 1:6-10) is set at the very beginning. It is about one's "walk," i.e., one's manner of life.

Thayer on the word "walk": 1) to regulate one's life; 2) to conduct oneself properly

Wesley Gerig explains: "The metaphorical use of the word 'walk' in the Bible refers to the way in which an individual lives or conducts his or her life; and regularly, the Christian's walk will be in stark contrast to that of the unbeliever's.'

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.

This text sets forth the criteria or conditions for being cleansed of all sin, and this is a continuous thing. The cleansing does not stop so long as one continues his "walk" in the light, as opposed to leaving the light and walking in "darkness." The idea that any and every sin negates this continuous cleansing by the blood, resulting in one's automatically switching over to a walk in darkness, is unreasonable and Pharisaic. In other words, if you are sinlessly perfect, and in God's graces, but you commit any sin, whether it is a sin of presumption, ignorance, inadvertence, or weakness (makes no difference), you are walking in darkness and "do not the truth." I think we can agree that those who "do not the truth" are not in fellowship with God and have no hope of heaven.

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

If someone thinks he is in a saved relationship based on the thought that he has perfect knowledge of the Scriptures and is living above sin, to include sins of omission, he is basically saying he has no sin. This verse condemns such a person in no uncertain terms.

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

This verse is simply teaching that we are to be in the habit of confessing our sins as opposed to denying them. It certainly is not to be interpreted in a way that is totally out of context and has spiritual security contingent upon something that is impossible. This goes against an established and accepted rule of hermeneutics, which is "do not interpret a passage in a way that unacceptable consequences follow."

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This might be interpreted to be applicable only to someone who says he has NEVER sinned. Certainly, in view of Romans 3:23, if a man said that he would be a liar. But what about those who say they don't sin (or think they don't), or say or think they have not sinned since their last known and confessed sin, or that they cannot remember when they sinned last?

Christians' "walk in the light" is a manner of life that INCLUDES confessing sins, as a practice. Thus, any charge that I don't believe 1 John 1:9 is a false accusation. That the blood of Christ covers sins, like sins of ignorance or inadvertence, before they become apparent and confessed, is confirmed by the apostle James:

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The above passage sets forth actions that are contingent upon sins being forgiven. The fact that specific confession of sin is not listed should lead the prudent to accept and understand that verse 9 does not in any way support the teaching that no sin is forgiven until it is confessed.

This paper would not be complete without including the teaching in 2 Peter 1:5-11, where we find the Christian graces that we are commanded to give diligence to add to our faith. The pertinent part of the passage is verse 10b: "for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" Now, since we have the promise that "if we do things" we will never fall, how can we accept the teaching of false brethren that we fall if/when we sin, no matter the sin?

There are other teachings that could be offered, but I'll end with just one more:

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

In this passage someone else does the asking, yet the person is forgiven, if the sin is not unto death. In stark contrast to the false teaching noted, that all sin is unto death, John says, "There is a sin not unto death."

For further study follow these links:
An exchange between Robert Waters and Donnie Rader

Tract called Continual Cleansing Versus Perfectionism