Guy Duininck: John's First Epistle and I John 1:9
I heard a very well known minister say again very recently that the first chapter of John's first epistle - including I John 1:9 - was not written to believers, but to early gnostic sinners.
I understand why this minister and many others have embraced that opinion. It is because the common and very widely accepted interpretation of I John 1:9 indicates a "works based forgiveness of sins" system that is quite troubling.
However.....the opinion that the first chapter of John's first epistle - including I John 1:9 - was not written to believers, but to early gnostic sinners is wrong. John's whole first epistle as well as his second and third epistles were written to and written for the benefit of believers; his spiritual children.
Like all the other epistles in the New Testament, John's three epistles were written to and written for the benefit of believers.
I deal with this matter extensively in my soon to be released book called, "Must We Confess Our Sins?" This book, a 320 page hardback and a very in-depth study of John's words in I John 1:9, presents an interpretation of I John 1:9 that is different from the common and very broadly accepted interpretation of I John 1:9 and disagrees with the the point of view I mentioned above that the first chapter of John's first epistle was not written to or intended for believers.
I'm glad to be finished with the study and writing of this book after a long four years! I hope many read and enjoy and learn from it!
