God will forgive your sins and purify you, “if”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Something you must do

Many of God’s promises include instructions or conditions to receive them. In the above verse, there are two promises: 1) God will forgive our sins, and 2) He will purify us from all unrighteousness. But these blessings come with a requirement—the small word “if”. If we confess our sins, then God, who is faithful and just, will act.

For example

Imagine a messy room, no matter how good the cleaning supplies are, the room won’t be clean unless someone actually uses them. In the same way, God’s forgiveness and cleansing are available, but we must take the step of confessing our sins to receive them.

Therefore

Whenever you read a promise, look carefully for instructions that show how to receive what God offers.

Don’t ignore the “if” in the promise at the top of the page. Confess your sins honestly, and you will receive His forgiveness and cleansing. God is faithful to do exactly what He promises.

Two examples promises with the word “if”

  • “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14-15 ESV)

  • “For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” (2 Chron. 30:9 ESV)

Mike Frenchbible promises, god will forgive your sins and purify you today’s promise to memorize “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 john 1:9) something you must do many of god’s promises include instructions or conditions to receive them. in this verse, there are two promises: 1) god will forgive our sins, and 2) he will purify us from all unrighteousness. but these blessings come with a requirement—the small word “if”. if we confess our sins, then god, who is faithful and just, will act. whenever you read a promise, look carefully for instructions like this—they show how to receive what god offers. example imagine a messy room. no matter how good the cleaning supplies are, the room won’t be clean unless someone actually uses them. in the same way, god’s forgiveness and cleansing are available, but we must take the step of confessing our sins to receive them. additional references “for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.” (matt. 6:14-15 esv) “for if you return to the lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. for the lord your god is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.” (2 chron. 30:9 esv) take-away therefore, don’t ignore the “if” in god’s promises. confess your sins honestly, and you will receive his forgiveness and cleansing. god is faithful to do exactly what he promises.