Assurance and 1 John

Confess/acknowledge it:

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Hank is right.

Of course Christians get angry and sin. John is writing about the totality of a professed believer's life. If our life is characterized by a lack of love towards the brethren, we best examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5).

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It is easy to read 1 John and work yourself into a destructive spiral. Ironically, it was written to give people assurance.

What has happened is that the modern Western church has reduced the calling of Jesus to a transaction where we exchange sin for salvation from hell, resulting in "heaven" when we die.

But if you read 1 John with a proper perspective on the gospels -- that Jesus calls us into a life of discipleship when we learn to live in His life and power -- we realize that 1 John is talking about a lifestyle, not particular good deeds or failures.

If you life is characterized by love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, you experience answered prayer on a regular basis, and you see personal transformation in your life, you can have confidence that you are experiencing eternal life in Christ. If you life is characterized by contempt and anger toward your brothers and sisters in Christ (including people you disagree with), you never experience answered prayer, and your life is not characterized by steady transformation of your character, then you need to reexamine the teachings of Jesus in the gospels so that you can truly enter into His life.

 

Yes and It happens to all of us Alain.

After salvation we still have the flesh to contend with and unless we live the life of a hermit we will clash with others..

There are other passages which deal with this issue of bad feelings with other brethren.

After acknowledgement of these sins there is another important principle if you are able or as Paul says as much as is within you:

Matthew 5
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Realizing this scripture is before Pentecost and speaks of "the altar" the teaching here is the universal principle of reconciliation.

Try if you are able to reconcile with brethren, family members, spouse, church members, etc realizing it's not always do-able even if they are still alive.

If you confess and seek reconciliation I believe you will find peace.

Note:Reconciliation is a two way street Alain, that doesn't mean you have to be successful, just do your part, then leave it in the Lord's hands.

Folks may even concoct and fabricate blatant lies about you - Do not become bitter. A root of bitterness makes us ineffective in our worship, prayer life, etc...

Remember: vengeance is mine saith the Lord I will repay. Try not to "stew" over anything. The Lord is the judge of all the earth.

Philippians 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I have prayed and will pray for you Alain.

 

You have to read it in the context of John is addressing the habitual lifestyle of one professing to now being Christian... If their lives are operating same way did before, still enslaved to sinning, or in this case not having love towards others saved, is a call to check and examine if one is really saved!

 

1 John 1 is to unbelievers, Gnostics. The rest of the book is to believers.

 

I'm sorry (maybe I'm not) - but IMO every page of the Bible is meant for ALL humanity because it glorifies God.

Psalm 96:3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.


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Of course you are right, but obviously you are ignoring the meaning of my statement. The commands given in some passages are for Christians and others are for unbelievers. 1 Cor 6:15 isnt talking about unbelievers when it says "you" for example.

I'll take it you are speaking partially tongue in cheek.

 

Yes sort of, but I wasn't even thinking of you RTH but a brother that has had to take a time out from BB.
He said that the scripture was given ONLY to God's covenant people.
Perhaps that is not why he had to go on vacation but I disagree with the statement he made.

I agree with you.

 

Not any more or less than 1 John 5
The whole book was written to those professing and to believers. 1 John 1:9; is only available to the believer noting 1 John 2:1-2. Then note 1 John 5:9-12.

 

I don't think this can be right, because in verses 6-10, John uses the pronoun 'we' showing that he is identifying himself with his readers.
It is better, I think, to regard 1 John 1:5-2:2 as a concise Gospel presentation and the rest of the book as application.

 

john was including himself as being part of the we that needs to confess their sins to God still!