Governmental Forgiveness
Governmental forgiveness means the forgiveness that God exercises over us as His children. It has to do with this life.
When the believer sins, he loses his communion as a child with the Father, but not his relationship as a child of God.
The subject of 1 John 1 is communion; therefore the Apostle says: “If we confess our sins [note, not ask for forgiveness], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This is governmental forgiveness and is also referred to in Matthew 6:14-15 and chapter 18:35. The Lord’s prayer has also this thought when it says, “Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4).
The “sin unto death,” referred to in 1 John 5:16-17, is that of a believer who has so dishonored the Lord through sin that he is removed in the government of God, though not lost.
First Corinthians 11:30 is another passage that refers to the government of God. Some were sickly and some slept (were taken in death) because they “broke bread” and walked carelessly with unjudged evil in their lives. May we walk carefully prayerfully, with exercised hearts to please God, who has done great things for us!
Sinless Living
1 John 1:8 declares, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
James 3:2 declares, “For in many things we offend all [or, “all offend”; JND].”
Romans 6:12 exhorts, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
2 Corinthians 4:10-11 exhorts and declares, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
These verses addressed to believers show that the old nature is still there. Our constant need is to “watch unto prayer,” as we find in 1 Peter 4:7.
Colossians 3:3 states the truth that we “are dead.” It is the truth of Romans 6 that we died in the death of Christ.
Romans 6:11 exhorts us to reckon ourselves to be dead. That is how we are to begin our Christian life. Then 2 Corinthians 4:10 tells us to carry out this truth in our daily life.
2 Corinthians 3:18 gives us the principle of victory through occupation with Christ.
“Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1).
H. E. Hayhoe (Present Truth for Christians)