Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ). 1 John 1:5-10 read as follows:
"5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
The phrase "If we confess our sins," in verse nine ( above ), has three cross-references, one of which is to Proverbs 28:13, which reads as follows: "13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
The Hebrew word ( Hebrew [ 5800 ] ) for the word "forsaketh," in verse thirteen of the King James Version ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible, is defined as follows: "to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. . . ." [ See Strong's EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS, PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS 01961-3473, ( A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF THE WORDS IN THE HEBREW BIBLE; WITH THEIR RENDERINGS IN THE AUTHORIZED ENGLISH VERSION. BY JAMES STRONG, S.T.D., LL.D., p. 86. ). ]
The word "relinquish," in the above-given definition, is defined as follows:
". . . v.t. 1 To give up; abandon; surrender. 2 To cease to demand; renounce: to relinquish a claim. 3 To let go (a hold or something held). See synonyms under ABANDON, SURRENDER. . . ." [ See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 817. ]
The word "abandon," in sense one of the above-given definition, is defined as follows: ". . . v.t. 1 To give up wholly; desert; forsake, as an effort or attempt. . . ." [ Ibid., p. 1. ]
The Greek word ( Greek [ 3340 ] ) for the word "repent," in Luke 13:3, 5 ( KJV ), for example, is defined as follows: "to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (mor. feel compunction). . . ." [ See Strong's EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS, PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS 01961-3473, ( A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF THE WORDS IN THE GREEK TESTAMENT; WITH THEIR RENDERINGS IN THE AUTHORIZED ENGLISH VERSION. BY JAMES STRONG, S.T.D., LL.D., p. 47 ). ]
The word "reconsider," in the above-given definition, is defined as follows: ". . . v.t. 1 To consider again, especially with a view to a reversal of previous action. . . ." [ See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 809, 810. ]
Thus, to forsake ( relinquish, give up, or abandon ) one's sins implies that one must first repent ( think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider ( reverse one's previous action )) regarding those sins.
This means that repentance is implied in the concept of forsaking one's sins. Therefore, the phrase "If we confess our sins," as referenced above, includes the concepts of repenting of, and forsaking, one's sins. Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
