Concerning 1 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. KJV
I am convinced that what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross saved souls and forgave sins. The sins of the elect were imputed to Him and His righteousness was impute to them. Sins were forgiven "not in part, but the whole". Since we have lived almost 2000 years after Christ's death and subsequent resurrection our sins were forgiven before they occurred. I truly believe that this is what the Bible teaches and therefore I am a bit at a lost as to how to understand 1 John 1:9.
Having read Gill, Calvin, Henry, Barnes, Clarke, MacArthur, Jamiesin-Fausett, Poole, notes from the Geneva Bible, various blogs and internet sources I am somewhat becoming able to form an apologetics for this verse but it is still a work in progress. The word "forgive" in this verse refers to relationship not positional status. A believer's position as a child can never change but sin can remove us from the proper relationship with God and this must be addressed by confession of sin. Our sin must be confessed to God, not to maintain our salvation, but to bring us back into close fellowship with the God who loves us and has already forgiven us.
Colossians 2:13, 14 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you
Paul treats forgiveness as past and secure while John seems to treat it as future and contingent.
But John also speaks like Paul stating in
1 John 2:12 (KJV)
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
The writer of Hebrews states
Hebrews 10:10, 14 (KJV)
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Christ sacrificed Himself once and for all. He was the atonement for sin. Forgiveness is already there in the atoning sacrifice and automatically applied and available to those united with Christ. If I have to ask for forgiveness, I'm essentially asking for something that I have already received. Our forgiveness is complete and total. It seems to me that when we as believers confess our sins God brings us back into the proper relationship to Him because of that forgiveness that already has been purchased by Christ's blood.
Mike Choate
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV
I am convinced that what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross saved souls and forgave sins. The sins of the elect were imputed to Him and His righteousness was impute to them. Sins were forgiven "not in part, but the whole". Since we have lived almost 2000 years after Christ's death and subsequent resurrection our sins were forgiven before they occurred. I truly believe that this is what the Bible teaches and therefore I am a bit at a lost as to how to understand 1 John 1:9.
Having read Gill, Calvin, Henry, Barnes, Clarke, MacArthur, Jamiesin-Fausett, Poole, notes from the Geneva Bible, various blogs and internet sources I am somewhat becoming able to form an apologetics for this verse but it is still a work in progress. The word "forgive" in this verse refers to relationship not positional status. A believer's position as a child can never change but sin can remove us from the proper relationship with God and this must be addressed by confession of sin. Our sin must be confessed to God, not to maintain our salvation, but to bring us back into close fellowship with the God who loves us and has already forgiven us.
Colossians 2:13, 14 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you
Paul treats forgiveness as past and secure while John seems to treat it as future and contingent.
But John also speaks like Paul stating in
1 John 2:12 (KJV)
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
The writer of Hebrews states
Hebrews 10:10, 14 (KJV)
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Christ sacrificed Himself once and for all. He was the atonement for sin. Forgiveness is already there in the atoning sacrifice and automatically applied and available to those united with Christ. If I have to ask for forgiveness, I'm essentially asking for something that I have already received. Our forgiveness is complete and total. It seems to me that when we as believers confess our sins God brings us back into the proper relationship to Him because of that forgiveness that already has been purchased by Christ's blood.
Mike Choate
Photograph by Cindy Moser