Verse of the Day for April 19

John writes this to Christians rather than to outsiders, which changes how the verse should be read. It is maintenance language, not entry language.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Faithful and just is a strange pairing to attach to forgiveness. Merciful would be expected. Just is not.

But justice is the right word if the debt has already been paid by somebody else. Refusing to forgive at that point would be the injustice.

Which removes the anxiety from confession. You are not petitioning an undecided judge, hoping to catch him in a good mood.

And two verbs are promised, not one. Forgive deals with the record. Cleanse deals with the residue — the sense of being dirty that often outlives the pardon.

Many people confess repeatedly for the same thing because they received the forgiveness and never asked for the cleansing.

Both verbs are in the verse. Ask for both.