Forgiveness is something people who claim the title of Christian wear like an Olympic medal. They say things like, “Because I believe in Jesus, I am forgiven of my sins.” and walk around feeling very confident regardless of the things they include in their lives. 1 John 1:5 (and following) says:
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. (NKJV)
John says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.” When he says, “My little children” he is addressing believers with less understanding of the ways of God: the less mature in the faith. He is writing to help these avoid the trap of sin. Why: if they are saved, aren’t they forgiven?
Because, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” There are a great many people who claim the title of Christian (one who walks with Jesus Christ) but have ongoing sin (darkness) in their life. If we walk in darkness, we cannot have fellowship with Jesus/God for “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
But he also says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Romans 3:23 tells us, “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Humanity is a fallen species. It has been this way since the days of Adam and Eve, when they chose to believe the lies of Satan and disobey the commandment of God. But, God gave us an out: Jesus.
When we accept His sacrificial death and follow Him, Jesus forgives us of our sin. But follow means we are to turn away from the sins we have been embracing. If we continue to say, “This book or magazine or movie is just entertainment, it does not affect my life or my faith”, when it clearly contains things that are labeled as sin in the Bible, we walk in darkness. If we say, “I love this person, God says we are to love, therefore it is good that I do this thing with them.” even though this thing is clearly labeled as sin in the Bible, we walk in darkness. If we say, drinking too much with my friends is just a way of blowing off steam in my stressful life.” when Ephesians 5:18 says “18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit”, we are walking in darkness. When we knowingly and willfully do things we know God does not approve of, we walk in darkness, and that darkness prevents fellowship (meaning communication or relationship) with God/Jesus.
Without fellowship, there is no forgiveness.
Forgiveness comes when we recognize our sin for what it is and confess: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confess here means more than simply admitting to having done something, it includes repentance; which is turning away from, a change in behavior and belief. When we turn away from that sin, we “walk in the light as He is in the light” and fellowship with God is restored. Then He hears our prayers, He forgives us, He can guide our lives, He can work through us in this world.
Must we be sinless before we can be saved? No: that’s not even possible. Jesus came to save the sinner. But if we accept and love Jesus, we will be willing to turn away from our sin and walk in the light. If we continue to embrace darkness instead, did we ever love and accept Jesus, or were we just frightened of damnation? Roll-playing does not save, accepting Jesus as Lord, saves.
