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1 John 1:9
Confession and Forgiveness
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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Why it is worth knowing
- Confession is the human side; faithfulness and justice are the divine side
- God forgives because he is faithful to his covenant and just in that Christ bore the penalty
- “To cleanse us from all unrighteousness” goes beyond forgiveness: it is purification
- This verse is the prescription for daily restoration in the Christian life
Where it sits: 1 John 1:8-10
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Hear the passage it sits in, sung word for word, on BibleDo's 1 John page.
Background
John writes to address a community facing false teaching that denied the reality of sin. His pastoral counsel is straightforward: acknowledge sin honestly, and God’s response is guaranteed by his own character: faithful and just. The word “righteous” is significant: God is not merciful at the expense of justice; rather, because Christ satisfied justice at the cross, God’s forgiveness is itself an act of justice. The daily rhythm for believers is not self-condemnation but honest confession followed by confident cleansing.