A STUDY OF 1 JOHN (11)

 

The Blood of Jesus Christ Cleanseth Us from All Sin

I John 1:7

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Will a Christian who dies while committing a sin be lost?  If there are sins that we can commit and not know that we have committed them, will we be lost?  These two questions have plagued the minds of Christians for years and years.  Individuals have studied the Scriptures in depth for an answer.  Many believe the answer is contained in 1 John 1:7.

            In 1 John 1:7, John writes:  “But 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.”  There are two parts of this verse that play a role in their answer.  First, the individual must be walking in the light.  This involves a person who is seriously and faithfully seeking to obey the will of God (Ps. 119:105).  His life is not characterized by the habitual practice of sin.  He is not a person who has completely forsaken the Lord and returned to the ways of the world (2 Pet. 2:20-22).  But, this person is going to sin from time to time.  John affirms this in 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10. 

            The second part of the verse deals with the words “cleanseth us.”  The Greek, we are told, involves not a single cleansing act but a continual cleansing by the blood of Jesus.  In other words, the blood of Jesus is operative at all times in the life of the Christian who is truly walking in the light.  If he commits a sin, we are told this sin will not cause him to be lost.  The blood of Jesus will cleanse that sin because of the person’s otherwise faithful walk in Christ. 

            There are others who do not affirm this teaching.  There are two primary reasons they oppose it.  One of the reasons is found in 1 John 1:9.  In this verse, John makes the confession of sins a condition of forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  The little word “if” is powerful.  If we confess, God will forgive.  The question is:  “What if we do not confess our sins?”  Is God going to forgive us of unconfessed transgressions?  If so, this would do away with the need to confess our sins. 

            The second reason some do not believe that a Christian is instantaneously cleansed from sin is because of some of the examples that are found in the Bible.  In Acts 5, a Christian couple lies to the Holy Ghost.  “But a certain man name Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 5:1-2).  When Ananias lied to Peter about the price of land, he immediately “fell down, and gave up the ghost” (Acts 5:4).  When Sapphira lied about the price of land, “then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost” (Acts 5:10).  This was just one sin.  Too, it was the sin of lying.  Most would not categorize it in the worst category of sins man could commit.  When they sinned, they were separated from God.  Too, God immediately inflicted the punishment of death upon them.  The question that some ask is: “Why didn’t the blood of Christ immediately cleanse the sins of Ananias and Sapphira?”

            Another example of a Christian sinning is found in Acts 8.  The gospel had been taken to Samaria by Philip the evangelist (Acts 8:5).  His preaching was successful according to Acts 8:12.  In verse 13, we learn that Simon, a sorcerer, believed also and was baptized.  Because Philip was not an apostle, he did not have the ability to bestow miraculous gifts upon these new converts.  But when news of their conversion reached the apostles, Peter and John were sent.  “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:17).  This power impressed Simon.  Remember, he was a new convert.  This was the first time he had ever seen this type of power manifested.  “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:18-19).  Peter did not overlook this transgression.  He did not trust the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse Simon without repentance on Simon’s part.  “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:20).  The word “perish” used by the apostle is a strong word.  It involves eternal ruin.  In verse 22, Peter tells Simon what he needs to do to correct this situation.  “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”  There were actions Simon needed to take in order to receive the forgiveness of God.  He needed to change his heart.  Too, he needed to pray to God forgiveness. 

            Having reached this point in our studies, we might ask:  “Which of the two positions is true?”  This writer has approached this matter with these thoughts.  First, the Christian needs to study God’s Word and do all in his power NOT to sin (1 John 2:1).  Yes, it is possible for a Christians to go for a minute, an hour, two hours, and even a day without committing a sin.  Second, most sins that we commit are not unknown to us.  We know when we violate the will of God.  When we do, we need to repent of that sin, confess it unto God, and pray for forgiveness.  These actions are part of what it means to walk in the light.  Are there transgressions the child of God can commit that will simply be covered by the blood of Christ?  This writer is not convinced that such is the case.  This is something that he will leave in the realm of the unknown.  He leaves that up to God.  However, he does not want to give anyone the impression that he is forgiven of a sin when he really is not.