Wednesday, 20 June 2018
Disbursement of funds for conference in university of Nigeria Nsukka
Thursday, 7 December 2017
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
What about 1 John 1:9?
One of the most popular bible verses used to question believers not confessing their sins is 1 John 1:9...
Let's look at the verse in detail:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, Webster's Bible)
Now when studying the Bible, bear in mind that the bible wasn't written in verses and chapters. It was written as letters. The book of 1 John was a letter from John the Beloved... So when you read the bible, don't just pick a verse and give it any meaning; read the verses and if possible the chapters before it and after it ( it's called pretext and Posttext)...
Having that in mind, read/study verses 1-8 and chapter 2, you'll notice that John's writing tone are totally different in these 2 chapters: in chapter 1 verse 9, he said we should confess our sin. But in chapter 2 verse 1, he said we have an advocate, someone with an advocate doesn't need to confess his crimes/sins, his advocate does it for him. That tells us that he is either contradicting himself or he is not referring to the same set of people... The first possibility is gone because bible can not contradict bible. So the second possibility is what happened.
So who was he writing to in chapter 1?
They are called "Gnostics". They are a set of heretics who rose in the church teaching that the flesh and all in it is evil. Hence they taught that Jesus never came in the flesh. This teaching is totally wrong because if Jesus never came in the flesh, then he wouldn't have died and there won't be any remission of sins nor salvation.
Since then the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Heb 2:14; Webster's Bible)
That's why John started 1 John 1 with the following words:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and testify, and show to you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 Jn 1:1-3; Webster's Bible)
John is telling them that Jesus actually came in the flesh, that he John even saw him and touched him. In the verses following, he made a call to them to believe in this message and be saved. He condemned their belief that they have no sin and went ahead to tell them that if they confess their sins, God is just to forgive them...
After handling these Gnostic, he came to chapter where he now focuses on believers (who he fondly calls little children in all his letters):
My little children, these things I write to you, that ye sin not. And if any man sinneth, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 1:9; Webster's Bible)
Did you see that? To Gnostics, he said confess your sins; To Believers, he said don't sin, but even if you sin, we've an advocate who is Jesus. Hallelujah!!!!!
He didn't say, confess; he said we have an advocate, a propitiation for our sins (vs 2)...
Praise God!!!!
So dear believer, you don't need to confess your sins... Dear unbeliever, believe on Jesus and be free from your sins...
Isn't Jesus Glorious and Lovely?
Just thank Him for The Cross...
