First John 1:9 Revealed

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse (purify) us from ALL unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

This is simple, but it’s been easy to misunderstand. If God purifies you from ALL unrighteousness, then you are clean. God doesn’t make mistakes; He’s GOD! The only way to be purified from ALL unrighteousness is to be born again, as stated in 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.”

Now, let’s examine why some have misconstrued 1 John 1:9, particularly in terms of who the intended audience is.

Consider verse 3: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

1. John is declaring something they seem to have no prior knowledge of. If these were believers he was addressing, then he wouldn’t have said, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” They would have already been aware of it.
2. Furthermore, if the audience were believers, John wouldn’t have said, “That ye also may have fellowship with us.” If they were already believers, there would have already been fellowship among them, with John, and with “the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

If you rely solely on confession as a believer, then you may not fully understand your position as a Christian. You’re either trusting in your own words (Old Testament), or in Jesus’ finished work (New Testament). You can’t be lukewarm; it’s either all Jesus or all yourself.