Let’s begin by reading 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Confession of our sins is a vital part of the believer.  First of all, let’s make this clear…the confession of our sins mentioned in this verse has nothing to do with our salvation.  These words are written to believers so that we can understand how and why we should confess our sins.  When we sin, we put a distance between ourselves and the Lord.  It is by confessing our sins to the Lord that we find forgiveness and cleansing.  Let’s look at this verse closely.

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS – Do believers on the Lord Jesus Christ still sin?  Indeed, we do. Verse 10 says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”  Believers do not “live in sin” but sadly, we do sin.  It is only a truly repentant heart that can honestly confess its sin.  It is when we have realized the conviction of the Holy Spirit that we will confess our sins to the Lord.  How wonderful it is that all believers are indwelt with the Holy Spirit who will work in our hearts to convict us when we sin.  To confess is to acknowledge before God that you have sinned and to tell Him your particular sin or sins you have committed. 

HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST – Notice that it doesn’t say here that the Lord is gracious and merciful, but that He is faithful and just.  What does that mean?  God is FAITHFUL to what He has promised.  We read in Psalm 32:5, “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”  We also read in Proverbs 28:13, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”  He is merciful because He has promised to be merciful.  God is JUST (righteous), because Christ has died for us, and thus satisfied His righteous demands for the salvation of our souls.

TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS – This forgiveness is not in a judicial sense.  It that sense we have already received forgiveness from the penalty of sins when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our savior.  This forgiveness is in a parental sense.  It is the practical forgiveness from our Father so that we might stay in close fellowship to Him.  As far as judicial forgiveness, we are assured in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…”  This was accomplished by Christ’s death on the cross for us.  Once for all.  This parental forgiveness is constantly needed when we sin.  As soon as we realize we have committed any kind of sin, whether is a sin of commission or omission, a sin of thought or of deed, a sin of action or a word spoken…whatever it is, we need to confess this immediately to God to receive His practical forgiveness.

CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS – What a wonderful work of the Lord.  Not only does He forgive us our sins, He cleanses us “with the washing of water by the word.” (Ephesians 5:26). Perhaps it is a hard lesson to learn, but when the Lord forgives us and cleanses us, we should forgive ourselves and seek His strength so that we do not repeat that sin. 

How precious it is that we have this needful work from the Lord.  May we be quick to confess our sins and not try to justify it because someone offended us, or we were tempted by some actions of others, or others doing the same thing.  The Lord requires our confession, which as I stated earlier comes from true conviction and repentance.  The Lord loves to forgive and restore, so let us confess our sins and receive His forgiveness and His cleansing.  (CC)  (669.2)