1. Don McClain 65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 1

2. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 2  Are there two plans of salvation? [“If baptism is necessary in order to receive the forgiveness of sins, why does the Christian who sins not have to be baptized when he sins?]  Is a Christian “automatically” cleansed by the blood of Christ when he sins? [An examination of I John 1:5-2:2].  If there are conditions to the Christian receiving forgiveness of sins, what are they?  What does it mean to “confess” our sins?  What does the term “repentance” really mean?  Can one sin condemn a Christian?  What about sins of ignorance?  Assurance of Salvation: Can We Know If We Are Saved?

3. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 3 The Question: “If baptism is necessary in order for the alien sinner to receive the forgiveness of past sins, why does a Christian who sins—not have to be baptized in order to be forgiven?” The answer:  The alien sinner has never become a child of God, (Gal. 3:26,27)  A Christian has enjoyed a covenant relationship with God, but has fallen away (Galatians 5:4).  They are both guilty of sin, but are approaching the Lord from two different perspectives.

4. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 4 Acts 8:20-24 (NKJV) But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! [21] You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. [22] Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. [23] For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." [24] Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."

5. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 5 James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:19 (NKJV) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,

6. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 6 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 2:1 (NKJV) 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.

7. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 7 Key questions to consider in the study of this text:  Is a Christian “automatically” cleansed by the blood of Christ when he sins?  If there are conditions to the Christian receiving the cleansing of sins he/she has committed, what are they?  What does it mean to “walk in the light”?  What does it mean to “confess our sins”?  What does it mean to “repent”?

8. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 8 Exegesis of the Text  The series of “if” clauses - (1:6, 7, 8, 9, 10).  Albert Barnes on “walking in the light” - includes at least the following three things:  Leading a life of holiness and purity (2:15-17; 3:3- 10);  Walking in truth [i.e. embracing the truth in opposition to all error] (4:1, 6; 2 John 9-11);  Enjoying the promises of God (1:3, 4; 5:10-12).  “Walking in the light” indicates continuous action on the part of the believer.

9. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 9 Exegesis of the Text  The blood of Christ “cleanses all sin.”  The struggling Christian should be greatly encouraged by the truth that the blood of Christ is powerful enough to cleanse “all sin.”  There is NOTHING in the verb used which assumes that the sinning Christian is automatically cleansed of his errors.  The cleansing of the Christian’s sins is continuously available, but the context also makes it clear that forgiveness is attained only by meeting the divine condition stated in 1:9, “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgives us…”

10. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 10 Exegesis of the Text  The blood of Christ “cleanses all sin.”  John does not say that we should merely confess that we sin, but he teaches us to confess our “sins.”  This demands acknowledgment of such with a desire to turn away from such errors.  This does not demand that one is to recall dates, times, places, etc., but it does demand acknowledgment of a sin if we are to turn away from such.  Can we “walk in the light” and “walk in darkness” at the same time? - (1:6-7).

11. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 11 21 BelievedRepentedConfessedBaptized Pentecost – Acts 2:14-41 4 37,38 4 38,41 Samaria – Acts 8:5-13  12  12,13 Eunuch – Acts 8:35-39  36,37  37  38 Saul – Acts 9,22,26  22:16 Cornelius Acts 10:34-48  43  48 Lydia – Acts 16:13-15  14  15 Jailor – Acts 16:30-34  31  33 Corinthians Acts 18:8 8888 8888 Ephesians - Acts 19:3-5 5555

12. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 12RepentanceConfessionPrayer Simon - Acts 8:14-24  22 James 5:16 4 16  16 James 5:19  19 1 John 1:9- 2:2 4 1:9 4 2:1

13. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 13  The problem of a false conceptualization of sin.  “What about sins of ignorance?”  “We cannot understand the Bible?”  “Will one sin condemn a person?”  “You are teaching sinless perfection”

14. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 14  In order for Noah’s family to be saved? – Gen 6:8, 22; 7:5; Heb 11:7; 1 Peter 3:21  In order for the walls of Jericho to fall? – Josh. 6:2, 20; Heb. 11:30  In order for Naaman to be cleansed of his leprosy? – 2 Kings 5:10-14  In order for the 3,000 on the day of Pentecost to receive the remission of their sins? – Acts 2:38  In order for the erring child of God to be forgiven of sin? – Acts 8:19-24; 1 John 1:7-9

15. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 15 The Biblical Answer: YES!  We can know we are saved by God’s grace through an obedient faith (Rom 8:16; Acts 8:35-39; 2:36-41).  We can trust God’s promises (I Jn 5:11- 13).  We can know that God would not ask us to do something we are not capable of doing.  We all make mistakes, but the cleansing blood of Christ is available to us when we repent, pray and confess.

16. Don McClain65th St church of Christ - 1/30/2005 16