John 1:9, ESV: "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." It applies to us by showing us that in order for a person to come out of darkness and lies they must see the truth of themselves and of Christ. has convinced of it, and has shown him its exceeding sinfulness, His sacrifice was superior to the Old Covenant sacrifice in that it doesn’t need to keep being offered in order to keep covering sins. 1 John 1:9 tn The ἵνα (hina) followed by the subjunctive is here equivalent to the infinitive of result, an “ecbatic” or consecutive use of ἵνα according to BDAG 477 s.v. In the Old Covenant the blood of bulls and goats were continuously offered and could only cover sins but in the New Covenant the blood of Christ was offered once for all and it removes sins! Of the Wo… He was not, however, addressing believers. Barnes's 1-john 1:9 Bible Commentary If we confess our sins - Pardon in the Scriptures, always supposes that there is confession, and there is no promise that it will be imparted unless a full acknowledgment has been made. Developed By Oneide, 1 John 1:9 explained clearly - does not say believers need to get continual forgiveness, Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter to get your free e-copy, Click here to watch my full sermon explanation of 1 John 1:9. Almighty God in pardoning sin performs an act of strict justice with respect to Christ, as well as an act of grace and mercy, in regard of us; he is faithful and just, as well as gracious and merciful. John 1:9 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] John 1:9, NIV: "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." The first part of the verse says “I write this to you so that you don’t sin, but if anyone does sin we have an advocate…”. This is because in the New Covenant being cleansed of sins is a once off act. God, proceeding upon the bloodshed and sacrifice of Christ, which He saw, heard, and touched the living god; the god who in the beginning created heaven and earth. This was John’s mission. 1 John 1:9, ESV: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ourselves; or at least it is sufficient to confess and John 1:1-9 Snapshots of the Lord’s Life. A son may fall out of favor with his family, but he is still a member of the family. Two key verses that show us this context are: 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”, 1 John 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”. and showing a proper regard to the blood and sacrifice of his 1 John 1:9 … Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. The context of 1 John 1:9 flows directly from 1 John 1:1, where “we” and “our” refers to and includes the writer, the Apostle John, who was a Christian. 1 John 1:9, NIV: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Of course this doesn’t mean it’s ok to feel free to go and sin. It is poetic prose—prose with the soul of poetry—prose that, like poetry, packs layers of meaning in a word or phrase. Book of 1 John - Bible Survey Who was John the Apostle in the Bible? his blood, and not impute it to him, or punish him for it; though we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Do Christians Still Have a Sinful Nature. we lie and do not live out the truth. What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith? So when you do proper hermeneutics of 1 John 1:9 it becomes abundantly clear that it is not to be applied to a believer saying they have to be continually forgiven and cleansed of sin, since this completely undermines the very heart of the Gospel and the sacrifice of Christ. Proud member to our fellow creatures and fellow Christians which are committed I don’t know about you but I believe that the Cross was powerful and effective enough to deal with all of our sins! the word here used may answer to the Hebrew word (qydu) , which sometimes carries in it God, against whom it is committed, and who only can pardon: and a John 1:9, KJV: "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." This is the description of those who are walking in the darkness of a lie. 1 John 1 – Fellowship with God. If they were to come into the light by confessing or acknowledging their sin then the blood of Jesus would cleanse them of that sin as verse 7 and 9 explain: 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”, 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.”, Notice how both verses say that we are cleansed from “all” sin. It applies to us by showing us that it’s not ok to just consider everyone a brother or sister since those who walk in the darkness have yet to come into Christ and become a brother or sister. It was offered once to completely remove sins! The forgiveness of 1:9 is experiential forgiveness. ]— τὸ ἀληθινόν, the true) There follows immediately the declaration, which enlighteneth, etc. entering into particulars; for confession of sin is to be made to Especially vs 26 “These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.”). truly God, has a power to forgive sin. God always bases our experiential forgiveness on our positional forgiveness. Commentary on John 1:6-14 (Read John 1:6-14) John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. John 1:19-28 John was asked "Why baptize?” John 1:29-34 Jesus The Lamb of God. Salem Media Group. unrighteousness is sin, and to cleanse from sin is to remove the repentance unto salvation, that needeth not to be repented of; EXEGESIS: JOHN 1:1-18. John 1:10-14 Only One Way to Experience Salvation. and his word is not in us. sinner, humbled under a sense of sin, and confessing it before 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.”. The promised gift of the HOLY SPIRIT was given, sent from the presence of the Father by the glorified CHRIST (Acts 2:33+). John 1:9-13 suggest that just as Jesus is a child of God, so are we. The Effect shows the Subject, to whom the name of Light is most applicable [whose attributes entitle Him best to the name. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Ἦν, was) The Light itself, moreover, was that true light, which enlighteneth. Go To 1 John Index. This is the Gospel message for this day. acknowledge in general what sinful creatures we are, without (See 1 John 2:18-27. 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. On that day the prophetic feast of centuries was fulfilled. But it is to be applied to unbelievers who don’t believe in sin and therefore do not cry out to a savior to forgive and cleanse them of all sin. of justice, with respect to the blood of Christ, and of pure © 2017 New Nature Ministries All rights reserved. So let us take the three keys we have learned and put them all together as we seek to understand 1 John 1:9. God has put a desire for relationship in every one of us, a desire He intended to be met with relationships with other people, but most of all, to be met by a … Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further follow the verse-by-verse . and to cleanse us, from all unrighteousness, In others words Christ’s one sacrifice was enough to completely remove all you sins for all of time. The book of 1 John was written to believers but was written to address the real error of Gnosticism which was infiltrating the early church. Have not only heard, but seen with our eyes, which we have beheld - Attentively considered on various occasions. See the notes on the parallel passages in the margin; and particularly in St. John's gospel, John 1 note. grace and mercy to the pardoned sinner: the following clause. What does it mean that God is light? Why do we need to confess our sins in they have already been forgiven (1 John 1:9)? Not a mere antithesis of the previous verse, but an expansion of the thought; “there follows as conclusion not merely this, that we are then true, but the incomparably greater and surprisingly glorious thought that God then proves Himself actually towards us … Biblical Commentary (Bible study) John 1:1-18 . To the right of the cross is John with his finger ever directed towards Jesus. He wanted the Gnostics to understand that what they believed conflicted with what God said. John 1:15-18 The Incarnation of Christ. By His coming the Body of CHRIST was formed and belie… International Bible Study Commentary. If you don’t believe in sin then you don’t believe you need the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from sin. Observe, 3. So they interpret this as a reference to the eternality of the Son of God. mercies of our God, and is both an act of justice and of mercy; Son; for his blood being shed, and hereby satisfaction made to If you don’t believe in the existence of sin you cannot be born again. 1 John 1:9 and 10. This is who John was sent to be. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a “general epistle”. To be a child of God is a literal claim for the Fourth Gospel. against them, yet are under no obligation to confess such as are The reality of god was not a matter of faith with John. Very good article. (Hebrews 10 explains all this.). Or Short Youtube clip explanation (1:47sec). The purpose of the first chapter of 1 John was to compare the truth of God to the error of gnosticism. … the Lord; and confession of sin is not the cause or condition of We must help them come into Christ by showing them truth and not to agree with them in their deception. sins: Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness. More John commentaries. is but the same thing expressed in different words; for all will help with class preparation and in conducting class discussion: these hints are available on the . more immediately against God, and which lie between him and This is a very important distinction. 1 John 1:9. is but the same thing expressed in different words; for all unrighteousness is sin, and to cleanse from sin is to remove the guilt of it, by an application of the blood of Christ for pardon. Lets be responsible with Bible interpretation so that we don’t put people under the Old Covenant but help them walk in the wonderful freedom and power of the New! The antecedent to the relative "he" in the text, is either God, who is light, and with whom the saints have fellowship; or his Son Jesus Christ, who is the nearest antecedent, and who, being truly God, has a … Short Youtube clip explanation (1:47sec). California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Daniel 4:27 ) From 1 John 1:6 to verse 10, John is addressing people who don’t believe in the existence of sin. Most people understand that the important things in life are not things at all – they are the relationships we have. The issue in experiential forgiveness is not acceptance by … So 1 John 1:9 applies to us today by showing us that in order for a person to call on Christ as their savior and be born again they must first acknowledge that they need a savior. That which we— The apostles. Your belief undermines the Gospel by removing a need for a savior. The antecedent to the relative "he" in the text, is either God, Once again, the verse says this: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Study Hints for Discussion and Thinking Further. Son Jesus Christ, who is the nearest antecedent, and who, being guilt of it, by an application of the blood of Christ for pardon. 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.”, Click here to watch my full sermon explanation of 1 John 1:9 (37 minutes, HD). Jesus as a baby cannot devolve into sentimentality but has everything to do with its promise for us. We have a new legal status in Christ that says “not guilty”, “not condemned” and He is our advocate and our defense that pleads our legal status – even if we do still sin! What does it mean to walk in the light? Notice how both verses say that we are cleansed from “all” sin. 1. The “we” of 1 John 1:1 is used in every verse in the chapter and right on into chapter 2 without skipping a single verse. The church John was writing to had these false brothers in the church who were actively trying to deceive people. 3 where 1 John 1:9 is listed as a specific example. and purify us from all unrighteousness. Hebrews 10:12 says that Jesus offered one sacrifice for all sins for all of time. The translation with participles (“forgiving,…cleansing”) conveys this idea of result. 12:7 ) ; and so forgiveness of sin springs from the tender just"; in being "true", as the Arabic version adds, to his word; and filled him with a godly sorrow for it, and given him They are therefore considered to be “walking in darkness” or a lie and are therefore not saved. Hebrews 10:10 says that through the blood of Jesus we have been made holy once and for all. Not to one other; for though it is our duty to confess our faults We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. John 1:43-51 God Calls Philip And Nathaniel. This is because in the New Covenant being cleansed of sins is a once off act. What is the lust of the flesh? 1:9-13, Word and World In John 1:9-13 there are three different responses to the manifestation of the Word-Light in the world: 1) the world does not … of John was addressing the Gnostics, who were deceived by their own teaching. The following is the only meaning that does not violate the interpretation of other Scriptures. comes and acknowledges it before the Lord, humbly imploring, for I have for years, been telling people the correct meaning of 1 John 1:9 and have always found a resistance from them to accepting the truth. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the Apostle John’s name. his word of promise; such as in ( Proverbs person, and points him out, to whom God will and does make known He experience god with his senses. If we confess our sins If it’s speaking to a believer then it means when we sin we become unrighteous again until we confess our sins and are forgiven of them again. The Gospel of John weds theology to poetry. THE PROLOGUE TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. gives the remission of sin; in doing of which he is faithful to A representative quote - What, may we ask, has intervened since the life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord that imparts to the Apostle's Epistle a viewpoint so definitely in advance over that taken in his Gospel, yet so closely related to it? forgiveness of sin here intends not the act of forgiveness, as in come; but an application of pardoning grace to a poor sensible and who, under such a sight and sense of sin, and concern for it, his forgiving love; for to whomsoever he grants repentance, he The indispensible duty required on our part, and that is confession of sin, If we confess. man that truly confesses his sin is one that the Spirit of God The answer is, Pentecost. Which was — Namely, with the Father, verse 2, before he was manifested. 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