1 John 1:7 says “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin”. Some have read this Scripture, and have erroneously postulated that “there is perpetual forgiveness for Christians so that Christians do not need to confess their sin in order to be forgiven”. But this Scripture says no such thing. The Scriptures, the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit will have to be in error in order for this false doctrine to fit. But the Scriptures have already declared : “…Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged”(Romans 3:4).
If this doctrine of “perpetual forgiveness even without confession or repentance” were true, then the Scriptures would have lied when it warned Christians that if they lived according to the dictates of their flesh, they will not inherit the kingdom of God (see Galatians 5:19-21). If this doctrine were true, then the Scriptures would have doubly lied when it again warned Christians that if they sow to their flesh they will not reap eternal life but corruption (Greek: Phthora – meaning destruction and perishing). Again, the Scriptures would have been in error to say that “those who have been partakers of the Holy Spirit (i.e. Christians – see Romans 8:10-11, 15) and have known the depths of God, including partaking of the powers of the age to come, will never receive forgiveness if they fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6)”. It would have also been wrong for the Scriptures to say that for those who once believed in Christ and turned away from righteousness to living in sin – a greater punishment will be given them than if they had never known the way of righteousness (see 2 Peter 2:20-22).
Jesus would have also lied when He said that in these last days, it is those who endure to the end who will be saved (Matthew 24:13) since those who refuse to endure would still have perpetual forgiveness. Again, Jesus would not have known what He was talking about when He revealed concerning His judgement that it will be merciless towards those who show no mercy (James 2:13; John 5:22). Jesus’ revelation of the Father that He will not forgive those who do not forgive others would have been of no account (Matthew 6:15; Matthew 18:21-35). The Spirit of God would have also erred to have inspired Paul to write that he had to keep his body under control lest he (Paul) becomes a castaway after he had preached to others. And it would have been silly for Paul to have taken such an instruction to heart (1 Corinthians 9:27), since he had perpetual forgiveness.
Nevertheless, the Bible says concerning God’s Word that “For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). Jesus also said “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35) and “…the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Because the Scriptures cannot be broken, we deceive ourselves to think that we can obtain forgiveness any other way other than how God says we should receive it.
What then does it mean to walk in the light? The Bible says the Word of God, and the knowledge of God’s Word is light (Psalm 119:105, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Revelation 21:23, and John 1:1 and John 8:12). Therefore, to walk in the light is simply to live by the Word of God or walk in the knowledge of God’s Word. If we indeed have the knowledge of God’s word and thereby walk in the light, then we will not be oblivious of the truth that God’s word calls on Christians to confess their sins in order to be forgiven (1 John 1:9). We cannot claim to walk in the light and neglect the very Word which teaches us to confess our sins to receive God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). This amounts to disobedience, and disobedience does not equate to walking in the light but in sin.
God doesn’t force His forgiveness on anyone just as He doesn’t force His salvation on anyone although Jesus died for all. By His Word, God expects His Children to come and receive the forgiveness He has made available for us in Christ by confessing our sins (1 John 1:9). How hard should it be for us to obey God and confess our sins to Him to receive His forgiveness – unless it is a deception of the devil to keep us from the very thing God has given us to keep our spirits from being defiled (2 Corinthians 7:1) and from eternal damnation in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:27).
Kwadwo Omari, PhD
July 21, 2019