<https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/the-1-john-1-9-lie-more-new-modern-hyper-grace-blasphemy.129861/>
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"New.modern.hyper grace teachers teach the lie that John wrote what he wrote in 1 John 1:9 to unbelieving gnostics rather than to his children in the faith. I know; it's ridiculous. They have absolutely no evidence to backup this claim, but they need this lie to undergird their lie that it is not necessary for believers to acknowledge sin for forgiveness. Some go so far as to say that doing so is unbelief. I read somewhere that Joseph Prince realized 1 John 1:9 contradicted his teachings, so he changed its interpretation to suit his agenda$. Now all of the new.modern.grace copycats regurgitate it without shame or good sense. As far as I know, this interpretation was non-existent until Prince.\n\nIt's obvious that 'we' in 1 John refers to the apostles who actually heard, saw and touched Jesus. \n\n​What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched, concerning the word of life— and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard, we announce to you also, in order that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship [is] with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3\n\nThose addressed as 'you' were other believers who were not personal witnesses of Christ. They would have been like those mentioned in the book of Hebrews.\n\nHow will we escape [if we] neglect so great a salvation which had [its] beginning [when it] was spoken through the Lord [and] was confirmed to us by those who heard, Hebrews 2:3\n\nThis is verified by John's expression of the hope that the apostles' joy may be full, not the joy of the believers to whom he wrote. This undoubtedly refers to the apostles' joy of seeing their spiritual children, those whom they had begotten in the faith, grow into maturity, because it mirrors a similar statement made by Paul that expresses a similar hope of joy.\n\nAnd these [things] we write, in order that our joy may be complete. 1 John 1:4\n\nComplete my joy, so that you are in agreement, having the same love, united in spirit, having one purpose. Philippians 2:2\n\nJohn then tells his spiritual children who didn't know Christ personally spiritual principles and truths that the apostles learned firsthand from Christ.\n​And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light and there [is] no darkness in him at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, so that he will forgive us [our] sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10\n\nThen John makes clear who is addressed as 'you' in his letter by calling then his spiritual children in the faith. \n​​My little children, I am writing these [things] to you in order that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous [one], 1 John 2:1"
<https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/the-1-john-1-9-lie-more-new-modern-hyper-grace-blasphemy.129861/>