Recently, I've been accused of believing a false doctrine. I had made a comment one day that as believers in Jesus Christ we no longer have to continue to ask Him for forgiveness because our sins have already been forgiven. This person literally turned about 10 shades of red and grew angry in my presence. I did say that I thought if we wronged someone we should ask for forgiveness because its the right thing to do. However, when I've per say "sinned" I just go to my Daddy God and say I messed up and declare that I know He'll help me fix this because He loves me and I'm His daughter! My relationship with my Daddy God is one of open communication and authenticity. I do not fear God because He is my deliverer. He is the one that can fix things when I mess up. He's my father and my very best friend. I don't go out and blatantly "sin" but I am not perfect. I just thank God that Jesus was perfect and became my sin so I could be righteous in the sight of God. So this person who grew angry with me, pointed out 1 John 1:9. It reads, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I began to ask this person the following questions: "who wrote the book?" "who was this written for/to?" "was it before or after the cross?" These are three very important questions when studying the Bible in it's context. I did not give him the answers, however the answers are: John wrote 1 John. The first chapter was written to the Gnostics (these were the unbelievers). So yes, if you are an unbeliever, we do need to confess our need for a Savior. It was written after Jesus went to the cross. In the 2nd chapter we see John addressing the believer. He addresses us as "my little children" and goes on to say that he write's us that we may not sin, and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also the whole world.
The Word also declares that where sin abounds, grace does much more abound! What exciting news! Listen, God is good and He is a loving God that does not impute our sins against us any longer! He imputed sin on Jesus Christ and He fulfilled the law. The law was designed to show us our need for a Savior because it was impossible to measure up to the law. Under our new and better covenant, Grace showed up in the person of Jesus Christ and measured up for us!
Praise God, my sin is not counted against me! Because of the work of Jesus Christ I can approach the throne of God boldly and confidently even in the midst of failure! He will never reject me and will never condemn me. I am in Christ! There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ!
