“CONFESSION, FORGIVENESS, AND CLEANSING” 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me to this day is that God, the Creator of the universe and the One who sustains it, is open to having an intimate, personal relationship with sinful people like me. The good things never end there. Not only does He offer a personal relationship, but those who come to Him in faith are also given fellowship with Him.

However, that fellowship is flawed when we have unconfessed sins. God is holy, which means that He will not turn a blind eye to our disobedience. In His righteousness, He always acts in accordance with His nature. All He does is right, even if it means distancing Himself when we neglect to confess our sins.

Why does God want us to confess our sins if He is all-knowing and has full knowledge of our unrighteousness? Why can’t He just forgive our sins by default? First and foremost, confession is for our benefit, not God’s. To “confess” is to agree that God is right in His view of sin. He defines sin, not us. Second, confession allows us to maintain a healthy relationship with God, i.e., the absence of guilt. Third, confession results in cleansing.

In today’s verse, John points out that confession produces positive results not because of our worthiness but because of the character of God. He emphasizes two of the Lord’s attributes: faithful and just.

Scripture presents God as both faithful (Greek “pistos”) and just (Greek “dikaios”). The latter is used of both God the Father and God the Son (John 2:29; 3:7). God is just because He forgives the sins of His people based on the sacrifice of His Son (John 2:2). Also, the Christian’s fellowship with God is connected with the shed blood of Christ.

When we confess our sins to God, two results immediately follow, which are forgiveness and cleansing (purification). To forgive (Greek “apheimi”) means “to let go” — just like how debt is canceled in Luke 7:43. With that in mind, John tells us that our sins are effectively removed from God’s accounting. On the other hand, cleansing suggests the removal of the after-effects of sin, such as guilt and shame.

Furthermore, John explains that we are forgiven and cleansed from every sin we confess along with all unrighteousness. Meaning, God pardons and purifies us from the sins we aren’t even aware we have committed. Isn’t that a reason to burst into praise?

Is your relationship with God shaky these days? Do you think He’s too distant, He doesn’t listen to your prayers, and you have that feeling of emptiness inside? Give this verse some serious thought and come to the Lord humbly, confess your sins, and be free from guilt and shame.

Pursue the Savior today!