Assurance of Forgiveness (2022) (1 John 1:8-9)
Verse 8 This verse tells us all that we have sinned.
- We have loss the standard of measure, God’s perfect Holiness.
- People today want to compare themselves to their own understanding, or to others they perceive to be worse than themselves.
- Holiness and sin and have become subjective issues.
- Or perhaps a bigger problem is that some think that they are the only ones who have sin.
- Or that they are the only one who struggles with this particular sin.
- But Remember 1 Cor 10:13 Whatever sin struggle you may have, it is common to being human.
- The real issue here is we cannot compare our sin to someone else.
Verse 9 This verse starts by telling us that we need to confess our sins. A simple acknowledgement of our sin.
- But it’s acknowledgement not work, not striving.
- Then the verse tells us that Jesus is faithful. Which means He will do it, and will do it every time.
- Then the verse tells us that Jesus is just.
- The Greek word translated as “Just” in the NIV or “Righteous” in the NASB means…
- conforming to the standard, will, or character of God; upright, righteous, good; just, right; proper; in a right relationship with God; fair, honest; innocent
- Because Jesus is in right relationship with God, He can do this.
- Only one who is righteous or just can forgive sins and makes us righteous. Only Jesus can do this.
- One who is unrighteous cannot make someone else righteous.
…And He will Forgive: The verse tells us that’s Jesus will forgive our sins.
- The word used here means to cancel. In their day, it was the word associated with canceling dept.
- When we confess our sins, Jesus cancels them. Once and for all.
Purify: Now the verse tells us that Jesus after he has forgiven us, He will purify us.
- The used here means: cleanse, make clean, purify; heal, declare ritually acceptable
All unrighteousness the verse ends by telling us that all of our sin has been forgiven and purified.
- Not just some, but all. The text makes it very clear; all sin has been forgiven and made pure.
- So often we end up believing the lie that some of our sins are too great or too big or too bad to be forgiven.
The issue of punishment This is an Old Testament concept.
See Isa 53 4-6
If you have confessed your sin but they keep coming back to mind.
That is the devil not God.
Fight back with scripture; Speak these over yourself and remind the devil of them.
Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy
Acts 3:19; 10:43; 13:38-39; Romans 4:7-8; 8:1; 10:10-11; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 4:16; 8:12; 10:1-25
1 John 1:9; 2:12; Psalm 51:12