The apostle John writes “If we say that we have no sin” (1 Jn 1.8); we should contrast this statement with “If we say that we have not sinned” (1 Jn 1.10). The first is the principle of sin, the thing, the root; the second has in view the practising of sin, the things we do, the fruits. The holiest of men are the most conscious of the presence of sin. To say that one has no sin (that the root has been eradicated) is self-deception, “we deceive ourselves” (1 Jn 1.8) (no one else has been deceived!); this is clear evidence that the truth (the body of Christian doctrine) is not within; the verse concludes with the words “and the truth is not in us”.
However, by way of contrast, one who is in the light, for John says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light” (1 Jn 1.7) recognises that while nothing can break the fellowship, sin and sins can, and do, mar the enjoyment of it; it should be made clear that the “if” in verse 7 is “not the “if” of doubt, but the “if” of argument, I.e. “since”. Sin is ever grievous to God and ever brings a cloud between us and God. The exercised person will not be content to know only that “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin” (v.7) but will want to know how that which is troubling the conscience may be removed.
The person of v.8 denies the presence of sin; the person of v.10 denies the practice of sin. Listen to the words of v.9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”; the believer who is before us in this verse recognises the existence of both and desires the restoration of the joy of fellowship, to know again the approval of the Father. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just” – this tells us that the confession is to God. It is the confession of specific sins, with nothing being hidden. The word “confess” means “to say the same thing as another” and thereby to admit the truth of an accusation. The light exposes, the eye of God sees, the conscience accuses; the one who confesses does not deny, cover or excuse. Generalisations will not suffice.
God is described as being “faithful and just”. Righteousness is the state of being right; in acting righteously, He is faithful to His own nature. He is faithful to the all-sufficient sacrifice which is the effective basis for the putting away of sin. Our sins are already forgiven judicially; we have already established this. God is not now our judge but our Father and as such He delights to forgive His children. We do not confess to One who grudges forgiveness, but to One who delights to pardon abundantly.
Having been forgiven by our Father paternally, we need His help that, in the future, we may not fall again. Therefore the One who forgives us will cleanse us from all unrighteousness, “and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (v.9), preventing us from committing again those things which are inconsistent with His character.
While forgiveness has to do with sinful acts, cleansing from unrighteousness has to do with the personal character of the believer. In v.7 the cleansing is by the blood of Christ. The cleansing of v.9 is by the washing of water by the word of God, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (Eph 5.26).
David E West.