Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P1078 (10-23-25)
What About 1 John 1:9 ?
~ The core meaning of biblical confession is to agree with God, NOT to ask for forgiveness. This understanding is rooted in the Greek word for confession, homologeō, which literally means “to say the same thing as another” or “to assent.”
Key Tenets of Biblical Confession
- Agreement, Not Petition: Confession is an act of agreeing with God about a situation, primarily acknowledging the reality of one’s sin and, more importantly, acknowledging the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
- Total Forgiveness: Because of Christ’s sacrifice, forgiveness for all sins (past, present, and future) is a complete and established fact. Asking for forgiveness is viewed as undermining the sufficiency of that single, finished work on the cross. We are to thank Him for the forgiveness that was provided at the cross.
- Interpretation of 1 John 1:9: The passage “If we confess our sins…” is not interpreted as a conditional if that must be met for God to grant forgiveness. Rather, based on the Greek grammatical structure, it speaks to whether or not a believer chooses to agree with the fact that God has already forgiven and cleansed them.
