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NASB | 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. |
Bible Question: In john 3 it says that God sent His Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not persish but have eternal life. It also says that God did not send His Son to judge the world. I have a question about this. Now that Jesus is in heaven interceding for the Saints, does He judge us when we come to Him? I'm a little confused about this. I've been trying to come back to God for a long time and I don't really know where I stand right now when it comes to if God forgives me for backsliding or not. I know that no sin is to great for God to forgive except one, but I really don't think I have committed that sin. What do you guys think? |
Bible Answer: Hello LJ777, You have touched on a big topic. I can see why you might be a little confused. Let me try my hand at it--maybe also fleshing out what lionheart has already shared. You asked about Jesus judging. Everybody comes into this world already judged. Why? Because of Adam's sin that we each carry within us. Consider Romans 5:16,18-19 “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. . . . Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” Adam's sin was judged, he was condemned, and we are also judged and condemned because we also sin. So Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, because it was already condemned because of Adam's sin. He rather came “in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). Let's follow John 3 a bit further. Verse 18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” This reinforces what I've already said (man is condemned already), but now there is a choice to make. Either you're in or you're out, and verses 19-21 bear this out: [19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God. Now here it's made plain. Those who do evil hide in the dark so as not to be seen by man or God. Those that do right show their deeds, because there is nothing to hide. So here is the kicker in verse 36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” The basic message of this verse is that a person that believes the Son will obey Son. This seems to be where you are now, so let me ask a question. Are you currently obeying Christ? You said you were trying to get back to God, so I'm assuming that you are trying to be obedient. Correct or not? If yes, there is the question of that past sin you mentioned, like did you go to far? This simple answer is no. You would not be asking the question if you had gone too far. First, the unpardonable sin is the one who utter rejects the witness of the Holy Spirit in word and deed. That's basically the point in Matthew 12:25-37. Your situation sounds more like the prodigal son in Luke 15. He left his father's house, sinned in every way imaginable, wasted everything he had, and then came to his senses. Am I close here? What did the son do? He repented of what he had done and decided to return to his father confessing his sin. He was even willing to say that he didn't deserve to be a son because of the shame in his past. What did the father do? He ran out and embraced the son. What did he do when he heard the confession? [22] But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. The father did not count the past sins against him. Lionheart was trying to get that same message across to you. Confession is simply agreeing with God that something is sin, then dropping it. Don't return to it. What's done is done, and if you confess, it's forgiven. Steve |