All Unrighteousness

^{1 John 1:5-10}

⁵ This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the Light as He Himself 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 that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

What is righteousness? According to Christianity.com, righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God, the Lawgiver, and is manifested in His laws. No man can be justified by his own works apart from God’s ordinance. Therefore, righteousness is a wonderful gift from God to humanity through His love: it is the God-given quality imputed to man upon believing in the Son of God. How would you define righteousness? The opposite of righteousness is unrighteousness.

John tells his readers that if we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Do you confess your sins? Do you believe that God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins? Do you believe that God can cleanse us from all unrighteousness? What does it mean to confess your sins? What does it mean to believe that God is faithful and righteous to forgive us of our sins? Have your sins been forgiven? How does God cleanse us from all unrighteousness? Is cleansing and forgiveness connected? Is forgiveness cleansing? When you are cleansed are you forgiven? How would you define unrighteousness? Is there any unrighteousness that God will not forgive you for?

Romans 1:18-31 give a great description of those who are unrighteous. They practice unrighteousness. What does Romans 1 say is unrighteousness? Who are the “they?” Paul tells the Romans that “they” are being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips. When are they filled with unrighteousness? Why are they filled with unrighteousness? What can be done about those who are filled with unrighteousness?

Near the end of 1 John, John tells his readers that all unrighteousness is sin. Is all sin unrighteousness? Do you practice unrighteousness? Do you confess your sins? How does your confession impact unrighteousness?

What is unrighteousness? How would you explain this to others?