Problem 26 - That Believers are to Confess their sins to God

PROBLEM NO. 26 - THAT BELIEVERS ARE To CONFESS THEIR SINS TO GOD

The passage for this is 1 John 1:6-2:1, especially verse 9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The New Scofield Bible, NKJV, relates this passage (and the whole letter of 1 John) to Christians whose sins have broken fellowship with God (page 1514).

THE TRUTH

The Apostle John IS NOT an apostle of the Gentiles. He was one of Israel's 12 Apostles. He began his first letter by referring back to the Lord's earthly ministry, which was normal for him to do (1 John 1:1-2). This is just the opposite of what Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 5:16! There are three facts that we need to realize in order to cane to a right understanding of this passage.

1. There are 6 verses in this passage and each verse contains an 'if,' with the first 5 verses beginning with an 'if.'

There are two types of 'if' in the Greek New Testament:

(1) There is the 'if' of certainty, which can also be translated 'since' in many verses, and is a part of the indicative mood of fact. The Greek word for this 'if' is EI.

(2) There is the 'if' of uncertainty, which is a part of the subjunctive mood of possibility, and is always translated 'if.' The Greek word for this 'if' is EAV.

In the letter of 1 John, the subjunctive mood of possibility (the words 'might,' 'may,' 'could, ' 'should,' and 'would' need to be used with this mood) is strongly emphasized in this short letter of 105 verses in 5 chapters. EAV (if) is used 20 times in 1 John, and the 6 verses under consideration contain EAV - if - instead of EI. EI is used only 5 times in 1 John.

Besides this, each mood has its corresponding 'that.' The indicative mood has HOTI, used 74 times, and the subjunctive mood has HINA, used 20 times.

This data indicates that the subjunctive mood plays a strong role in this letter, and we should recognize this for what it's worth.

So then, much of the truth in 1 John is based on possibilities, or what can be called 'contingencies.' This is consistent with the Gospel of the Kingdom as preached by John during his ministry before and after the cross. What caused the element of possibility? What was the overriding contingency back in the first century? It was the Repentance of the Nation of Israel - IF Israel WOULD repent. But the fact is, Israel did not repent, and that makes all the difference in how you view the letter of 1 John.

2. Under the Kingdom Gospel (the only gospel John was familiar with), repentance and confession WENT TOGETHER. This is seen when we read about John the Baptist's ministry and what he taught. Matthew 3:6 says, "and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins." Repentance is mentioned in verses 2,8,11 - three times. We find this also in Mark 1:4-5, "John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. [5] Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins." And this is what 1 John 1 is all about, that fellowship with the Father and His Son involved the baptism of repentance and the confession of sins. John calls his fellow Jewish brethren 'little children,' as if they had not grown up yet. It is significant that the phrase 'little children' is used only by John (8 times) and Paul (once - John 13:33; Gal. 4:19; 1 John 2:1,12,28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21). The Greek noun is TEKNION, meaning 'little child,' those in a nursery.

3. During this Age of grace, believers have been forgiven ALL of their sins - past, present, and future - when we accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. The Divine agent for this is the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7-we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins; Col. 1:14-we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins; and two verses having to do with ALL of our sins, Col. 2:13 and Titus 2:14). If you have doubts about your future sins, please remember that when Jesus died on the cross for you, ALL of your sins were in the future.

Now it is true that after we are saved, we still commit sins. Sometimes our sins can hurt others, and sometimes other believer's sins can hurt us. What are we to do? We are TO FORGIVE them just as the Lord has forgiven us, graciously, lovingly, and mercifully (Eph., 4:32). Paul says nothing about confessing our sins to God or to anyone else, for that matter.

There is one thing in this world that can keep us from sinning. That one thing is God's Word - THE BIBLE. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to cleanse us as the Word is read, taught, and preached to us (Eph. 5:26). This is called 'practical sanctification.' This is God's way of taking care of practical sins that happen every day of our lives.

By Robert C. Brock