CONFESS YOUR SINS AND BE FORGIVEN
Key verse: 9
NIV
Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness
5 This is the message we have heard(A) from him and declare to you: God is light;(B) in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,(C) we lie and do not live out the truth.(D) 7 But if we walk in the light,(E) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.(F)
8 If we claim to be without sin,(G) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.(H) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins(I) and purify us from all unrighteousness.(J) 10 If we claim we have not sinned,(K) we make him out to be a liar(L) and his word is not in us.(M)
Footnotes
- 1 John 1:7 Or every
Cross references
- 1 John 1:5 : 1Jn 3:11
- 1 John 1:5 : 1Ti 6:16
- 1 John 1:6 : Jn 3:19-21; 8:12; 2Co 6:14; Eph 5:8; 1Jn 2:11
- 1 John 1:6 : Jn 3:19-21; 1Jn 2:4; 4:20
- 1 John 1:7 : Isa 2:5
- 1 John 1:7 : Heb 9:14; Rev 1:5; 7:14
- 1 John 1:8 : Pr 20:9; Jer 2:35; Ro 3:9-19; Jas 3:2
- 1 John 1:8 : Jn 8:44; 1Jn 2:4
- 1 John 1:9 : Ps 32:5; 51:2; Pr 28:13
- 1 John 1:9 : ver 7; Mic 7:18-20; Heb 10:22
- 1 John 1:10 : ver 8
- 1 John 1:10 : 1Jn 5:10
- 1 John 1:10 : Jn 5:38; 1Jn 2:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Walking in the Light
5 (A)This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that (B)God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 (C)If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and (D)do not practice the truth. 7 But (E)if we walk in the light, (F)as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and (G)the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 (H)If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and (I)the truth is not in us. 9 (J)If we confess our sins, he is (K)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and (L)to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, (M)we make him a liar, and (N)his word is not in us.
Read full chapterCross references
- 1 John 1:5 : ch. 3:11
- 1 John 1:5 : James 1:17; [ch. 4:8; John 4:24]
- 1 John 1:6 : ch. 2:11; John 12:35; 2 Cor. 6:14
- 1 John 1:6 : John 3:21
- 1 John 1:7 : [Isa. 2:5]
- 1 John 1:7 : [Ps. 104:2; 1 Tim. 6:16]
- 1 John 1:7 : Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19; Rev. 5:9; 7:14; 12:11
- 1 John 1:8 : [Job 15:14; Jer. 2:35]; See James 3:2
- 1 John 1:8 : ch. 2:4
- 1 John 1:9 : Ps. 32:5; 51:3; Prov. 28:13
- 1 John 1:9 : [Ps. 143:1; Rom. 3:26]
- 1 John 1:9 : [See ver. 7 above]; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19; Rev. 5:9; 7:14; 12:11
- 1 John 1:10 : ch. 5:10
- 1 John 1:10 : John 5:38; 8:37
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The blood of Jesus purifies us (5-7)
Sin breaks our fellowship with God and with others. It makes us fatalistic and dark, and robs our lives of meaning. But we don't have to live in the darkness of sin. God is light, and in him there is no darkness. If we repent before him, he exposes our sin, and the blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from all sin. We can walk joyfully with God in his light.
2. Confess your sin (8-1
)
If we cover up our sins because of pride or self-righteousness, no one can help us. But if we confess our sins and put them under the blood of Jesus, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Everyone is a sinner, so there is no need to pretend not to be one! There is every reason to confess our sins and be forgiven, for this is the way of healing and peace. This is the only solution to sin and guilt.
Prayer: Lord, I am a sinner. By your grace alone wash me in the blood of Jesus and make me clean.
One Word: He purifies me from all unrighteousness
