There are a number of nice sounding phrases that have been accepted as doctrine in some circles although these phrases contradict the Scriptures and can lead many astray. One of such phrases is “if you are saved, then all your future sins are forgiven”. The problem with this phrase is that there is no verse in the Bible that actually says so. On the other contrary, what the Bible teaches is that God has made provision for us in Christ to receive His forgiveness; therefore when we sin, we are to repent and confess our sins to Him, and consequently receive His forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 reads “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. In this text, God makes forgiveness of our sins conditional on we confessing our sins to Him. There has been a teaching that this promise of God in 1 John 1:9 is not for the church. But this teaching lacks any biblical backing, and grossly contradicts the Scriptures on many levels. First of all, John did not write his letter in chapters and verses. These were later additions, as with all the Scriptures, that helps with referencing and quotation. Therefore, we cannot take portions of John’s letter we personally do not like, call it “chapter one”, and claim that portion should not belong to the church, although John sent his entire letter to the church! It has also been claimed that John does not indicate that he is writing to the church in the first chapter, therefore, the first chapter of his epistle is not applicable to the church but unbelievers. However, this is a lie, which John himself disproves in his epistle. Secondly, no where in Scripture or in literature has it been mandated that the audience of any epistle or writing has to be expressly mentioned by a certain specific name in the opening statement or first chapter. The Scriptures were not even written in chapters and verses! Rather, to find out the audience of any book of Scripture, you simply have to read the entire book contextually, and not rather use the artificial divisions of chapters and verses to ascribe certain chapters to certain groups.
In 1 John 2:1, John wrote “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin”. 1 John 2:1 could have very well been named 1 John 1:11 if those who divided the Scriptures into chapters and verses had chosen to make it the last verse of chapter 1 instead of the beginning of chapter 2. Here in 1 John 2:1, John clearly identified who he had been writing to all this while. This will help anyone who may have missed the audience of his letter in the “first chapter”. In the midst of his writing, he indicates that a reason why he has been writing (which includes everything he wrote in chapter 1, including 1 John 1:9) was so that “his little children” may not sin! With this, he clearly notes that those he was writing to were “his children”. This is not in reference to his biological children but his children in the faith just as Paul also told the church in Corinth that he was their father in Christ (1 Corinthians 4:15) and also referred to Timothy as his son (1 Timothy 1:2, 18), although these were not his biological children.
Indeed, the Scriptures strongly affirm that 1 John 1:9 is a blessing God has given to His church. May we not reject God’s blessings in favour of the deception to retain our sins at all cost instead of repenting and consequently confessing them to God to receive His forgiveness. If God does not forgive our sins because of our refusal to repent and confess them to Him (see Hebrews 10:26-27, 1 John 1:9), then our sins will remain, and even our born-again spirits can be defiled (see 2 Corinthians 7:1). And nothing unclean will ever enter God’s kingdom (see Revelation 21:27, Matthew 7:21-23, Galatians 5:19-21).
To be continued.
Dr. K. Omari
February 06, 2023.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.