No Excuse Confession

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins” 1 John 1:9

If – Read the whole paragraph (1 John 1:6-10).  You will notice that John uses this Greek word ean (if) in every verse.  However, it is not the only Greek word translated “if”.  The other word is ei.  Ei is the “if” of mere supposition.  It’s the if in “Hypothetically speaking, if this were true.”  But ean is the “if” of fact.  It is the “if” that must be determined by experience.  “If you go to Seattle, you will see the Space Needle.”  It’s not just a hypothetical imagined possibility.  It’s determined by your decision to go to Seattle.

This is so important.  John doesn’t say, “If, just hypothetically speaking, you confess”.  John says, “If, as an empirical reality, you confess.”  That is, if you really do open your mouth and express your repentance.  Then something happens.  God forgives. This is “no excuse” confession.  It requires you to say what you have done, to own it and then take it before the Judge of all Mankind and present it to Him in all its hideous rebellion.  This is serious.  And without serious confession, nothing happens.  It’s not hypothetical.  It’s a real possibility that depends on you.

Now notice something else about these verses.  John also uses the word “not” and “no” over and over.  “If we say we have no sin.”  “If we do not practice the truth.”  John only uses one Greek word in all these cases.  He uses ou, the “never existed” not.  The strong “not”.  Not me, the “maybe” not.  The intention is clear.  John says, “No one can ever say that they never sinned.  If they make such a claim, they lie.  There is no possibility that you don’t have sin in your life.”  Because John recognizes that every one of us is a sinner, he tells us the truth about confession.  It is real.  It has to be!  Our sin is real so we need a real solution.  What good would it do if we only had a theoretical chance at forgiveness?

Does John contradict Paul?  Does John tell us that sin is inevitable while Paul tells us to stop sinning?  No way!  John observes the fact that we all have sinned.  Not one of us can come before God and claim righteousness.  That does not mean we are excused to continue sinning.  It means that sin is a serious, deadly issue that can’t be ignored.  There is an answer.  Confession.  Not remorse or regret.  Not “I’m sorry.”  Confession is far deeper.  It is accompanied by “no more, Father, no more.”  To acknowledge openly in agreement with God’s perspective.  To adopt God’s view on sin.  To hate it with righteous wrath.  That’s confession.