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We might tend to agree with the author regarding many of the assertions he makes, but he doesn't tell us where they are in the Bible. Though he does quote the Bible at points, there are many other times we are left to our own devices as he jumps around the NT without telling us where he is.
We might tend to agree with the author regarding many of the assertions he makes, but he doesn't tell us where they are in the Bible. Though he does quote the Bible at points, there are many other times we are left to our own devices as he jumps around the NT without telling us where he is.
But we also emphatically disagree with him when he misrepresents the sacrificial death of Jesus. For some reason Reformists/Calvinists are enamored with the idea that Jesus was punished by the Father. It's a macabre and false belief, which we will explain below.
Also, the author uses the word "license" in this article, but the meaning is never explained. It's not a commonly used word in the sense that the author uses it. The closest we could come is the freedom to break rules or principles. But we think he's tending toward the idea of an assumed permission to act because of certain freedoms.
Lastly, it seems the author is taking his audience for granted, that they possess prior knowledge of the background information upon which this article is based. Thus his explanation presumes certain assumptions not everyone might be privy to.
We must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.
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Does forgiveness enable sin?
Probably the most frequent go-to verse for assurance of pardon in a worship service is 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.”
This assurance is honey to our flagging spirits when they are weighed down by the guilt of sin. It bathes the guilty conscience with the refreshing waters of God’s grace.
We were reminded in our recent analysis (see here) that this verse points us to Jesus and His redeeming work on our behalf. God forgives us our transgressions not simply because we confess them but because we confess Christ as God’s provision for forgiveness of that sin (and every sin).
As John goes on to say: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God due us as lawbreakers. The cleansing from all unrighteousness we receive points us to the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7) once shed at Calvary’s cross (Heb. 9:26). (All correct up to this point. But the author will son deviate from these facts, yet return to them later. We are unable to explain the departure, but we will point it out when it comes.)
In the thick of this discourse of deliverance about sin and its solution, John issues a statement that seems out of place. (What statement is that, and where?)
Does forgiveness enable sin?
Probably the most frequent go-to verse for assurance of pardon in a worship service is 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.”
This assurance is honey to our flagging spirits when they are weighed down by the guilt of sin. It bathes the guilty conscience with the refreshing waters of God’s grace.
We were reminded in our recent analysis (see here) that this verse points us to Jesus and His redeeming work on our behalf. God forgives us our transgressions not simply because we confess them but because we confess Christ as God’s provision for forgiveness of that sin (and every sin).
As John goes on to say: “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus satisfied the wrath of God due us as lawbreakers. The cleansing from all unrighteousness we receive points us to the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7) once shed at Calvary’s cross (Heb. 9:26). (All correct up to this point. But the author will son deviate from these facts, yet return to them later. We are unable to explain the departure, but we will point it out when it comes.)
In the thick of this discourse of deliverance about sin and its solution, John issues a statement that seems out of place. (What statement is that, and where?)
In the bridge between the first two chapters of his first epistle the apostle is explaining that though we are born-again children of God, we continue to sin. (Which verse is that?)
In fact, our increasingly painful awareness of that sin is an indication that we indeed possess eternal life (1 John 5:13). (There is no mention of sin in this verse.)
He then explains God’s solution for our sin through the work of His Son (Where is this mentioned?)
He then explains God’s solution for our sin through the work of His Son (Where is this mentioned?)
who became our sin-bearer, (Again, where is this mentioned? Here is where the author departs from his previously-stated truth.
Jesus did not "bear" our sin in the sense that He was imputed with it as is generally taught in Reformed/Calvinist churches. Jesus lifted up and bore our sin as a burden to be carried:
He. 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people...
"Take away" is anapheró, which means to lift up on oneself, to take upon oneself, i. e. to place on oneself anything as a load to be upborne.)
paying our debt of guilt (Jesus did not pay our debt, He paid for us:
1Co. 7:23 You were bought at a price...
There is no verse that tells us Jesus paid for our sin. His blood washed away our sin.)
and suffering the penalty we deserve. (Jesus did not suffer punishment in our place. There is no verse that tells us this. The Father did not penalize Jesus. The Lamb of God died to spill His blood:
Ep. 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins...
The blood is the only element that is effectual:
He. 9:22 ...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
The blood is enough. Nothing else is needed, including the punishment of Jesus.)
John also highlights Jesus as the Righteous One of God. In Christ we are cleansed by His blood (Oh! Here is the swerve back into the truth. So the author does understand the sufficiency of the blood, but yet he still thinks the Father punished Jesus instead of us.
And which verse the author is talking about is still a mystery.)
and clothed in His righteousness, (Where does the Bible tell us this? We were unable to locate a verse that tells us that we are clothed in His righteousness. Rather, we are actually and literally righteous by faith [Ro. 9:30, Ph. 3:9], purified by the blood [Ep. 2:13, He. 9:14, 1Jn. 1:7]).
and so made acceptable to the holy God.
But in the midst of this ledger of grace, (What is the "ledger of grace?")
John writes this non sequitur: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). (Finally, we know where he's at...
A non sequitur is a procession of one idea to another that does not connect. Yes, we may be picking nits, but we do not see a non sequitur in this verse.)
Hearing that the debt of our sin—past, present, and future—is paid in full (There is no verse that tells us sin is a debt that was paid.)
seems to issue us a license to sin. (We don't think so.)
After all, if Christ has borne all the consequence and covered all the debt why not sin with abandon or at least without concern? (It takes a fleshly mind to consider this possibility.)
Yet, John says that he is explaining this divine transaction to us to keep us from sin. How does that logic work? It works because our salvation is more than a legal ledger. (It's not a legal ledger at all. It's a sacrificial transaction, not a legal one.)
Yet, John says that he is explaining this divine transaction to us to keep us from sin. How does that logic work? It works because our salvation is more than a legal ledger. (It's not a legal ledger at all. It's a sacrificial transaction, not a legal one.)
It involves more than justification. It involves the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to unite us to Christ. (Where does the Bible tell us this?)
That’s why John begins his statement by addressing us as “little children.” (Which verse is he talking about?)
That’s why John begins his statement by addressing us as “little children.” (Which verse is he talking about?)
We are children of the living God (1 John 3:1), born again of the Spirit. He is at work forming Christ in us, orienting our hearts to God as our Father, cultivating the fruit of repentance, faith, and new obedience. (The author just cannot bring himself to tell us where in the Bible he's finding this stuff. Is it a secret?)
Rather than giving us a license to sin, our position in Christ gives us a license to not sin. (How does He do this? Please explain.)
Rather than giving us a license to sin, our position in Christ gives us a license to not sin. (How does He do this? Please explain.)
While we were spiritually dead in sin and incapable of not sinning, (This is a reference to the Calvinistic doctrine of Total Depravity. But this doctrine doesn't teach that the unsaved are perpetually sinning. Spiritually dead people are most certainly able to choose to not sin. There are all sorts of nice, caring people doing wonderful things who are not Christians.)
the Spirit gives us life and inclination to obedience. (Where does the Bible say this?)
He stirs in us distress of soul when we turn our backs on our loving Father in heaven to follow after sin, (Where does the Bible say this?)
He stirs in us distress of soul when we turn our backs on our loving Father in heaven to follow after sin, (Where does the Bible say this?)
and He seeks us and restores us to fellowship with Him. (Where does the Bible say this?)
Sin does not affect our relationship with God. (Where does the Bible say this?)
He remains our adoptive Father, but it does affect our fellowship with Him. (How does sin affect our fellowship with God? This seems like a point worthy of explanation.)
John stresses that Jesus is our Advocate with the Father. He our surety stands. As the writer of Hebrews notes: “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). If we embrace this glorious truth, our love will not be for sin but for our Savior (1 John 2:3-5). (Sigh... the referenced verses make no mention of this.)
In what way does John hold up for us a license to love? (Is the author asking us?
This sentence is a much better example of a non sequitur. It appears out of nowhere and does not connect with this discussion.
A very strange way to end his article.)
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Stanley D. Gale (MDiv Westminster, DMin Covenant) has pastored churches in Maryland and Pennsylvania for over 30 years. He is the author of several books, including A Vine-Ripened Life: Spiritual Fruitfulness through Abiding in Christ and The Christian’s Creed: Embracing the Apostolic Faith. He has been married to his wife, Linda, since 1975. They have four children and ten grandchildren. He lives in West Chester, Pa.
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