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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: Thanks for your reply. I hope my question gets attention, too, because I'm really struggling with this issue. Your conclusions definately has merit. BUT (I hate using this word) why does John seem to say that forgiveness is conditional upon our confession? "IF we confess...He is faithful and just TO FORGIVE..." This seems to imply that if we don't confess, He won't forgive. Please don't think that I'm trying to argue your conclusion. Your answer seems right. But how does this verse fit in? I've been taught (right or wrong) that we don't have the truth until all scriptures dealing with a subject correlate and do not contradict. I even tried looking at the Greek behind the text and it doesn't seem to help. Thanks. |
Bible Answer: I believe that there are two levels of forgiveness. (1) The LEGAL act of forgiveness that was accomplished by the shed blood of Jesus Christ and applied to our spirits upon salvation. (2) The INTIMATE act of forgiveness that restores our communion with God. I'm sure we would agree that justification indeed permanent and that we "wear" Christ's righteousness. But you are asking why would we need to be "cleansed from all unrighteousness" ... This question begs the answer that there are two different aspects to forgiveness. One involves justification and the other involves sanctification. |