I logically wouldn’t think this needs to be covered, but through my interactions with other people I have learned that it does. In some circles it is taught that 1 John 1:9 is written to the lost, not the Christian. It is taught that a Christian doesn’t need to confess their sins, that in doing so we profess unbelief, that a Christian is supposed to be righteous and never sin (which is wrong and is not biblical). We are all sinners (Romans 3:23, 6:23) The verse reads as follows: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Keep in mind as I will cover later, the chapter/verse division wasn’t in the original text. It was introduced around A.D. 1205 by Stephen Langton. So when the Bible is being read, it reads like a letter. All of it together in context. Not random excerpts out of context. This is the reason we have over 10,000 denominations in the “Christian church”. There are many sects/cults that are self-professing Christian denominations, but heretical at the heart of their teachings. Here we go!
2 Timothy 2:23-26 – But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses
and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Now let’s read 1 John in context. We are going to step through 1 John and see if it could possibly be written to the lost (which it isn’t; it is written to the Christian church).
- Notice the use of pronoun “we”/”us/our”. Is the author lost?No. Most definitely not.
1) 1 John1:1-10 – What was from the beginning, what
we have heard, what
we have seen with our eyes, what
we have looked at and touched with
our hands, concerning the Word of Life and the life was manifested, and
we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to
us what
we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with
us; and indeed
our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things
wewrite, so that
our joy may be made complete. This is the message
we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If
wesay that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth; but if
we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses
us from all sin. If
wesay that
we have no sin,
we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in
us.
If weconfess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If
we say that
we have not sinned,
we make Him a liar and His word is not in
us.
2) (This makes it pretty clear (to me). I don’t want to make God a liar) v. 8-10: We are all sinners, (v. 10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar…..
3) 1 John 2:1-2: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for
those ofthe whole world.
(……pretty clear)
4) 1 John 2:8: On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.
5) (The lost don’t know God, v. 13 can’t apply to lost, they also haven’t “overcome the evil one” (v.13); the Word of God doesn’t “abide” in the lost (v. 14)) 1 John 2:12-14: I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
6) (For this epistle to be written to the lost, v. 19 would have to be saying that Christians went out from the lost and were never lost? Do the lost have an anointing from the Holy One? No! (v.20)) 1 John 2:19-21: They went out from us, but they were not
really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but
they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
7) (Once again, do the lost have an anointing from the Holy One? (v. 27); do the lost abide in God? NO! (v. 27) 1 John 2:27: As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
(The lost cannot have confidence when He appears (v. 2 1 John 2:28: Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
9) (Are the lost “children of God”? , NO! (v. 1-2)) 1 John 3:1-2: See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that
we would be called children of God; and suchwe are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
10) (The world doesn’t hate the lost, it accepts them as one of their own, because they are (v.13); the lost haven’t passed out of death into life (v.14), they are still in their sin) 1 John 3:11-13: For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain,
who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.
11) (Christ laid down His life for His sheep, not the lost: John 10:25-28 – Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.) 1 John 3:16 : We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
12) (The lost cannot have an assured heart) 1 John 3:19: We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
13) (The Lord does not answer the requests of the lost, their will is contrary to the will of our Father, they cannot ask according to His will. For Him to “answer their requests would contradict His nature. In the end, His sovereignty/providence reigns over all. He can still work in their life and will, but not because they asked it of Him, it’s because He is God, and He can do that.)- 1 John 3:22: and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
14) (Once again, does He abide in the lost? NO! They haven’t received the Spirit) 1 John 3:24: The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
15) (The lost are in the world, and of the world, and again, the Spirit of God does not live in them! And again, they have not overcome the world/evil one) 1 John 4:4: You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
16) (For this to be to the lost, it would be saying he who is lost doesn’t listen to the lost, and only listens to those who know God? It wouldn’t work) 1 John 4:6: We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
17) (The love of God isn’t manifested in the lost, only in those who know God, nor would they live through Jesus). 1 John 4:9: By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
1 (Already covered) 1 John 4:13: By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
19) (Already covered) 1 John 4:19: We love, because He first loved us.
20) (The lost don’t have faith, that should be evident) 1 John 5:4: For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–
our faith.
21) (The lost don’t have eternal life) 1 John 5:11: And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
22) (The lost don’t have eternal life) 1 John 5:13: These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
23) (Covered in #13)1 John 5:14: This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
more of my thoughts:
First off, this is not an “essential” message of the faith. When studying the Bible we shouldn’t read anything into the Bible. We let the Spirit lead our studies and let the Bible speak for itself. If it isn’t “black and white”, then don’t claim your “view” as an absolute truth and tell others they are wrong. This is bad theology to approach it that way. Approach all with loving-kindness, gentleness, grace, patience, and love.
In closing, we should acknowledge sin as what it is, sin. We shouldn’t attempt to justify it somehow, or pretend God doesn’t know what we’ve done. We should put off the old, put on the new, and be a new creation. Not want to sin, and feel bad when we do, and ask God to help us not do it again. God knows our hearts, and we don’t necessarily need to ask for forgiveness verbally, but the intent of our heart needs to be repentant. The Holy Bible speaks for itself, and defends itself. The “assumption” is that 1 John 1:9 is strictly addressed to the lost, not the saved. For this to be true, the entire letter would have to be written to the lost, which clearly is not true. See 1 John 3:1 ….
we would be called children of God; and such we are. ; 1 John 5:4: ….
and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Look at the numerous, numerous other verses that clearly address the general epistle of 1 John to be addressed to God’s church. The saved, not the lost.
Keep in mind, this is all secondary to the primary message of the Bible, which is salvation through faith, by grace, the means by which is Jesus Christ’s complete work on the cross. 
let me wave it in everyone's face
