“IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS – WHAT SINS?”
by Doug Krieger
Although we have read and reread 1 John (written by the Apostle John, cir. 90 A.D. when he was in Ephesus) – and many a true believer in the Christ, the Anointed One, have gleaned insurmountable truth and practical Christian living from its pages; yet, I would indulge your patience and extend grace to me in presenting a most overlooked, and certainly less emphasized aspect in 1 John, which is the nexus of his epistle.
The core of John’s letter centers on the anointed unity of God’s people wrought by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, juxtaposed to the spirit of Antichrist, which denies the incarnation of the Anointed One—the Christ—and superimposes an elite system of “hidden knowledge” (aka Gnosticism, a Second Century heresy) which can only be obtained through adepts who have ascended into so-called spiritual realms, leaving all materialistic pursuits, which are innately but the evil of the flesh. Thus, the unsuspecting initiate (novice) can only know mental enlightenment and spiritual freedom from evil if they intentionally apply the rigor taught by these adepts who have achieved this “knowing.” Moreover, such ascendancy is overtly designed to separate believers, not only from the fellowship between the Father and the Son, but, in so doing, to divide believers from one another.
Is it any wonder, then, that John, nigh 40 times, uses the verb “know” anchored in the historicity of the Anointed One—the Christ, who, as the Word of Life from the “get go” was heard, seen, and touched upon His manifestation as the Eternal Life with the Father, and that His physicality was manifested to the early disciples, being confirmed by the Holy Spirit’s anointing within the believer and upon the fellowship between them—so great is His redemption!
Allow me to break this down, and please forgive any tone of presumption. You may or may not be aware of the cardinal items of truth embedded in John’s epistle—insights derived years after the writings of Paul, Peter, Jude, Luke, Matthew, Mark, and the book of Hebrews were in circulation among the brethren.
It appears that shortly after John’s epistles (although it could have been written earlier), the book of Revelation was written by John from the Isle called Patmos in exile. Meaning that the letter to the seven churches (aka Ekklesias of Asia Minor)
had already been written; thus, the Ekklesia in Ephesus had “left their best love.” The “Disciple of Love” (as John would be known) was well aware in his epistle (I John) of the Ephesian condition in that, since 64 AD, he had lived among these followers of Jesus.
Confessing What Sin?
Sorry, this is and isn’t all about you. It is because 1 John puts the onus on each one of us, but more so, it’s how you and I relate to one another, making it far more than about any one of us. And this is where personal sin overlooks corporate implications. You see, most of us have interpreted 1 John 1:9, which says:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” . . . and furthermore, to substantiate our personal confession, we have read: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10).
. . . in this manner: “Lord, I confess my sin of _____ (fill in the blank) and I know you are faithful and just to forgive me of my sin and just like it says in 1 John 1:7, “. . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses me from all sin” – forget about the we, us and our, it’s all about my personal sins and failures which I incessantly confess, claim the blood of Jesus, and know I have been forgiven of that unrighteousness.
But is that the “sin” that this passage is talking about? No, we’ve completely missed the mark here.
First of all, John initially talks about how we have heard, seen, looked upon, and our hands have handled concerning the Word of Life. Moreover, we are brought into declaring the eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us. All this is designed so that “you also may have fellowship with us” (vs. 3).
Yes, we’re talking about having koinónia (Grk. κοινωνία “fellowship” – “partaking” – Strong’s G4842) not only with the joy of entering into the fellowship between the Father and the Son but participating in the expansion of that fellowship with one another.
Consequently, whatever SIN breaks that fellowship with one another needs to be confessed—to whom? Well, obviously to the Righteous One, but likewise to each other. Later, John clearly puts it out there:
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another . . . He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 1:7a, 2:9-11).
Listen up, John puts it out there in no uncertain terms:
You’re either walking in the light with your brother/sister, or you’re walking in darkness; you’re either loving your brother or hating him.
Ouch! “John, why don’t you ease up a little—you sound so final about loving and hating, about light and darkness.”
Yes, and it’s all about that New Commandment Jesus announced at the Passover Preparation Meal in that Upper Room, to love one another as Jesus loves us (John 13:34-35 and 1 John 2:8-11).
The Blood of Jesus Keeps on Cleansing Us of All Sin
A beloved brother I once knew—who has fallen asleep in Jesus—once told me about 1 John and the “cycle of life” found within the first chapter of that letter. Don H. would tell me: “Doug, if you and I are walking in the light together, sooner, rather
than later, spots will be exposed by the Light because “in Him is no darkness at all” (1 Jo. 1:5). When we say, Doug, that “truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 Jo. 1:3), we are walking in their fellowship, and in Him is no darkness at all. So, dear brother, as we walk together in the Lord, spots will show up, things which impede our fellowship with one another— that’s when we confess those sins which break our fellowship, and where the blood of Jesus keeps on cleansing us from all such sins in our walk together in His Light!”
Two Brothers Who Broke Fellowship
Wow, I never saw it that way before—never saw that the sin John was speaking about took place as brethren walked together with the Word of Life in the Light of Life. Let me give you a vivid illustration between two brothers who once were in fellowship but then broke fellowship with one another. Let’s call these brothers #1 and #2. Brother #2 was told to leave a certain ministry in which both #1 and #2 were enjoying. Brother #1, after a time, saw too many spots in brother #2. Instead of confessing one to another their sin of division, which had developed—they simply broke off all contact. Brother #2 left the ministry and moved to another town.
Years passed. Brother #2 had configured in his thinking that he had forgiven brother #1, who he felt “kicked him out of the ministry.” But #2 had no intention of ever seeing #1 again, even when he discovered that #1 had also, years later, been “excised” from the same ministry. Yes, sadly, brother #2 still had no intention of ever seeing #1 again—it was just too painful. To forgive is human—to forget is Divine . . . #2 could ‘t find it in himself to forget what he felt #1 had done to him.
Along came Henry Hon, who encouraged #2 to “bury the hatchet” with #1. Alas! The day came after 45 years to do just that. With every fiber of his being, #2 knocked on #1’s door. It opened, and there stood #1, who reached out and embraced #2—to forget is Divine! “... and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son keeps on cleansing us from all unrighteousness.” That’s what confession looks like.
Sure, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jo. 1:8). Brother #2 could have said, and he did many times over, “I’ve forgiven #1, and I have no problem with him.” That’s called deceiving oneself—the sin is still there. Just as in Cain and Abel . . . “Sin is crouching at the door, it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Gen. 4:7). If only Cain would have listened to the Almighty—sin got the best of Cain and death/murder resulted, as in major division between two brothers. By now you know, #2 was Doug Krieger.
You see, the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — desires that we enter into Their fellowship. That’s what the Ekklesia is all about. There’s perfect Light, perfect Life, and Love in Their fellowship. When you and I were “born from above,” we immediately entered into that eternal fellowship... a whole new way of communicating with each other took place. No more were we, you and I, in our little “worlds”—our silos! We were included in the Beloved Son; therefore, we were immediately ushered into His presence and gained a vast fellowship of brothers and sisters. How is that? Because of this:
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:46-50).
Antichrist vs. the Anointed One, the Christ
John continues to expose the Gnostics and their heresy, which in point of fact grossly divided the Body of Christ. How’s that? Well, think about this: The Gnostics realized that “the flesh” (the material world) was inherently evil, so if one could free themselves through “hidden knowledge” via an elite adept, they could readily ascend into a state of spiritual consciousness where freedom from the material world would be theirs.
Jesus, as the Christ, did not need to “come in the flesh” because the flesh was inherently evil—no need for the incarnation. Christ was essentially a pure spirit, not truly embodied in the physical world. Christ’s physical form was a temporary, lower-level manifestation — a “vehicle” or “shell” — while his true nature was spiritual and eternal.
No, Jesus was fully human and fully divine. Gnosticism taught seven core beliefs:
1. The true God is hidden and unknowable.
2. The material world was made by a flawed creator. 3. Humans carry a divine spark within them.
4. The fall of Sophia set everything in motion
5. Salvation comes through Gnosis, not faith
6. Christ was a revealer, not a sacrificial victim
7. The Archons keep humanity trapped
Jesus, as the revealer of gnosis (secret knowledge), was not merely a teacher but a spiritual embodiment of this divine spark. His earthly ministry was a means to awaken this inner light in believers, not to redeem the body in the way orthodox Christianity taught.1
These definitions have spurious subsidiary deceits; in sum: You become your own god. John was more forthright: Many antichrists are gone out into the world:
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1 Jo. 1:20-23).
The Amplified Version tells it like it really is:
1 John 4:3 - AMP – “. . . and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son's true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.”
What does the Anointing in the believer’s life have to do with division in the Body of the Anointed One, the Christ? Much in every way. The Anointing that each one of us has received from the Holy One is akin to the anointing oil that was poured out on the High Priest, Aaron—
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes” (Psa. 133:1-2 Berean Standard Bible)
Let’s get intensely specific here. YOU HAVE AN ANOINTING FROM THE HOLY ONE and, frankly, and “you all know all things” (1 Jo. 2:20). Say what? Absolutely, you know all things, because the Anointed One in you knows everything there is to know! Stop listening to the LIAR “who denies that Jesus is the Christ—the Anointed One!” The liar from the beginning (the Antichrist, Satan himself) would deny you the fellowship between the Father and the Son:
“He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).
Do you see it? The Anointed One brings you into the fellowship that the Father has with the Son. I speak here of the Holy Spirit in that the work of the Holy One, the Holy Spirit, the Anointing, has but one quest within the believer:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world” (1 Jo. 4:1-3).
The Anointing will never deny the fellowship the Father has with the Son, nor will the Spirit, the Anointing, deny you that blessed fellowship that is extended to every believer.
Wait a Minute—You Need Brother So-and-So’s Anointing
Now this is going to get personal here. You’ve often heard that brother so-and-so “has an anointing” and, more so, you need to be under brother so-and-so’s anointing. Why? Because you have no “covering,” which is causing you to have a superficial walk with the Lord that is not only uneven, but will result in stunted growth as a believer. So, get with it and find an Anointed One in your life that you can emulate. Here, let me recommend brother “L” from whom you can “learn the lesson.”
Yes, this brother, this sister, has a “special anointing” received from many years of “coming under submission” to other brethren; therefore, he is able to “teach you all things and is no lie”—so just abide in him, this special anointed brother!
No, I’m not advocating that believers cannot learn from mature brethren. But if these mature brethren are truly anointed, they will lead you to the Anointed One within you, and this Holy One will teach you all things.
Don’t Let the Spirit of Antichrist Steal Your Anointing
Far too often brethren who long to “walk in the Light” reach out to those more mature in the faith, only to have their “personal anointing” (which produces a “walk with Christ” in unity of the brethren) stolen or given via deception to another individual. Instead of being “taught all things through the abiding Life of Christ,” the believer is tethered his chain to another individual or group which intentionally or inadvertently subsumes (puts out the flame) of the Anointing within that believer. Normally, such “lying” is justified by the so-called depth of the “mentor” or “mature” individual who “knows a lot more than you do.” And without knowing up front what’s happening, your joy, your Anointing, is squelched!
The phrase, “whose God is their belly,” found in Romans 16:18 well fits these “antichrist culprits.”
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:17-18).
Please note, these verses are followed by the “crushing of Satan” beneath the feet of the Body of Christ in Romans 16:20. Truly, the spirit of Antichrist—for there are “many antichrists that are gone out into the world” — lurks in the darkness with “smooth words and flattering speech deceiving the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:18).
These “spirits” who cause division among us—who bring offenses between one another—must be avoided. Listen up, you have an Anointing from the Holy One, able to discern those who deceitfully rob you from (1) the fellowship you have with the Father and the Son; and (2) steal your corporate fellowship with God’s people.
These “antichrist spirits” have no truck with any other ministry other than what they claim. Yes, they may recognize other ministries—but if it doesn’t feed their own bellies, their own egos, forget it! Through “smooth words,” even “flattery,” one’s heart
(that’s how deep it gets) can be deceived and forthwith plunged into the abyss of the “Bellies of Babylon” (confusion).
Concluding Word
We have been called not only to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God, Salvation only through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we have been chosen by Him to proclaim the Gospel of Peace—not only justification by faith bringing us “peace with God” (Romans 5:1) but preaching the Gospel of Peace (Rom. 10:15) bringing the Peace of Christ between once divided peoples (in this case Jews and Gentiles).
Once within the “Kingdom of His Beloved Son” (Col. 1:13), we have “peace with God.” Thereafter, we are enjoined to “keep the peace,” as in:
“Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace” (Eph. 4:3, AMPC).
Let’s pray:
“Father, let me, through the power of Your abiding Spirit, be a “peace maker” among Your people. I renounce every ‘spirit of Antichrist’ who would deceive me and rob me of the simplicity I have in the Anointed One, the Christ! Let my obedience be known to all that I stand with all your children, walking in the Light in full fellowship with all who call upon your Name. I know that I abide in You because You have given me of Your Spirit. Jesus, you are the Son of God—you have brought me into God’s love, Who first loved me. How can I love You, without loving my brothers and sisters? Lord, I surrender to Your love for all the brethren—I embrace Your New Commandment to love as, You, Jesus, loved me. Amen.”
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