Is a Verbal Confession Enough?

“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 ESV)

This verse in the Bible is another one of the most critical of the misquoted (quoted out of context) verses in the Bible. For people are teaching others from this passage of Scripture that all that they have to do is to make a verbal confession (admission) of sin and now all their sins are forgiven, heaven is secured for them, it can’t be taken away from them, but regardless of how they live. And so many of them, thus, continue living in sin and for self, without regard for God and for what he wants from them.

But is that the true context? No! It isn’t! And, again, this is yet another example of why it is so critical that we read and understand the Scriptures in their context. And it helps, as well, if you have access to a Greek interlinear, like on Bible Hub.com to where you can look up words and their meanings, for our translations don’t always capture the true meaning (or verb tense) of the words, such as the word love (agape), which means to prefer what God prefers, and to choose his choices, and then to obey them in his power.

Well, this word “confess” (in context) means “to voice the same conclusion because in full agreement; to align with, endorse.” So, if we are confessing our sins to the Lord it means that we are aligning (agreeing, supporting, siding with) God with regard to our sins. It means that we come to the same conclusion as God about our sins. So if we align with God about our sins we are not going to just verbalize the sins and then go back and keep repeating them. We are going to turn from those sins and now obey God, instead.

And then this fits with the overall context of 1 John 1:9, which is:

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5-10 ESV)

So, in context, what is this teaching us? It is definitely teaching us that we cannot just verbalize a confession of sin and now we are forgiven of all sin, done deal. For our words must be followed up with our actions. Like this teaches us, we cannot just say that we are in fellowship (partnership, participation, contributory help, communion) with God/Christ and thus it means that what we say is true. For, if we are still walking in sin, living however we want, and not in obedience to God, then our confession is a lie.

So, we cannot just speak it into existence. We must be living it in reality in our day to day lives, in practice. For words are cheap if they are not followed up with action. So those people who practice a “sin, confess, sin, confess” lifestyle where they will say “I’m sorry,” but without genuine repentance (change of mind, heart, attitude, and actions), and so they keep doing the same sins over again, in practice, are not really sorry, or they would change, and they would not keep going back to the same sins, injuring others. 

So, we are liars and people who do not live by the truth if we profess that we are in relationship with Jesus Christ but while sin is still our practice. But if we walk (in conduct, in practice) in the light (Jesus Christ, truth, righteousness, obedience to God, the gospel), then we are in true fellowship (union) with God/Christ (understood/implied), and thus we are also in fellowship with other Christians who are also in such genuine fellowship with God, who are no longer making sin their practice.

And thus the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. So, what is this saying? Words are cheap if they are not followed up with actions. We cannot not just speak something into existence. It needs to be a reality in our lives, in practice. So, a mere verbal profession (or confession) means nothing if it is not followed up with action. What action? We must cease to walk in sin and now we must be those who are walking in the light. Sin must not be our practice, but righteousness and obedience to God must be our practice.

Then we can claim salvation from sin, forgiveness of sins, true fellowship with God/Christ, and eternal life with God, when we are walking according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, and when denial of self, dying daily to sin, and following our Lord in obedience is our practice, and not sin, and not disobedience to his commands. For if sin is what we practice, we will die in our sin. We will not inherit eternal life with God. So this is also letting us know that our salvation is progressive, not a one-time deal only.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]  

Courageous!  

An Original Work / December 24, 2013  

Based off Various Scriptures

The Word of God throughout taught.

Some people heard but did doubt.

Still others had faith in Christ.

By grace He purified them.

They turned from sin

And they obeyed Christ.

He opened up their blinded eyesight;

Turned them from darkness 

To the true Light;

Forgave their sin by His might.

He strengthened them in their faith.

He said, “Remain my faithful.”

He called them to obedience.

By faith, they were so grateful.

By faith, they were to follow Jesus;

To daily sit and listen to Him;

To have such faith 

That mountains could move;

To love those whom He gave them.

Be on your guard; courageous.

Stand firm in faith. Be thankful.

Take up the shield of your faith;

Protect against all evil.

Do not move from 

The hope that you have.

Your faith in Jesus let it endure.

Hold to the truth; 

Your conscience be clear.

Endure with perseverance. 

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