Correspondence: 1 John 1:7 Explained

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
Ques. 155. Please explain 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). C. M. Ans. The Christian is in the light. He walks there because he is there. (Sometimes he does not walk according to the light.) We have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all (every) sin. This is not telling when or how we are cleansed, but of what cleanses.
Ques. 156. From C. M.
Ans. When a soul believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, his sins are eternally forgiven, not some of them, but all his sins. "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake." (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12).) And "By one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14).) Sins can never be charged up again to the believer, for "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).)
1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7) is governmental forgiveness. 1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12) shows us that he is a forgiven child of God, but this verse provides for everyday failures. The Father wants happy children, and we cannot be happy if careless about our walk. If we grieve the Spirit, He will reprove us, and confession and self-judgment is the means for our restoration to communion with the Lord.
Rom. 8:33For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3) shows that the flesh under law could produce no fruit for God. So Christ's death, as a sacrifice for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, "in order that the righteous requirement of the law should be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." Our old place as in the flesh is gone in the death of Christ.
2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Here the same truth is brought out more fully; by Christ's death all are seen to be dead. There is no good in the flesh, but those who live should no longer live unto themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again. Our blessing and standing before God is in Christ risen from the dead. It is in Christ, and He is raised from the dead: it is a new creation. There is no improvement of the flesh, but a setting aside of the flesh in the death of Christ. We have now a new life, which finds its delight in Him who died for us. We have new creation life, and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us now. (John 20:2222And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:22); Rom. 8:22For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2).) Christ, as risen from the dead, is the beginning of this new creation. (Col. 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18); Rev. 3:1414And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14).) We partake in it now (Gal. 6:15, 1615For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:15‑16)), but when it is completed,
"All taint of sin shall be removed,
All evil done away;
And we shall dwell with God's Beloved
Through God's eternal day.