Subject: salvation |
Bible Note: God has provided for what may be called "initial judicial forgiveness" and also for "repetitive judicial forgiveness." The first provision - initial judicial forgiveness - is given when a person receives Christ as his or her Savior. This forgiviness of sins is availabe because of the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. He has offered one sacrifice for sins forever, Heb 10:12. Any sins we commit after salvation is applied through Jesus Christ's continuing work as our Advocate each time we sin whether we confess the sin or not. As our Advocate Jesus Christ has paid for that sin on the cross too so we are still judicially (positionally) perfect, 1 John 2:1; this forgiveness is unconditional. This may be called "repetitive judicial forgiveness." The passage in question John 1:9 deals with our fellowship. We are to walk in the light. We do not have fellowship with Him if we are walking in darkness. When we confess our sins, the estrangement and loss of fellowship with the Lord is restored. In 1:9 the plural word "sins" suggests that John was referring to acts of sin,not the sin principle, as in verses 7 and 8. The blood of Jesus goes on cleansing us from sin as we walk in the light. But specific acts of sin are to be dealt with by confession and forgiveness. So this provision may be called "repetitive fellowship forgiveness." Charles Swindoll, Roy Zuck, Wendell Miller |