1 John 1:9 - just a small discussion of this verse.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." ~ 1 John 1:9

sins--> ἁμαρτία (hamartia):
1) equivalent to 264
a) to be without a share in
b) to miss the mark
c) to err, be mistaken
d) to miss or WANDER from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
e) to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin
2) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act
3) collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

Unrighteousness --> ἀδικία (adikia):
1) injustice, of a judge
2) unrighteousness of heart and life
3) a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

I think there's some interesting things to consider when studying this verse, some say it contradicts other verses and cannot be written to NT believer bc someone who is righteous can't be unrighteous.... Which there's truth to the fact that we can't be righteous one minute and completely unrighteousness the next because we made a small mistake, but I think it is interesting that the word used for "unrighteousness" can also mean "unrighteous acts or deeds violating God's divine law" .... Which, makes that verse make more sense and I can see that it DOES apply to us... While we are righteous, we do possess a body, we are not just Spirit.... We are a spirit, we possess a soul and we live in a body... Paul even said that he buffets his body daily to make it his slave, which makes me think if you don't buffet your body daily it will want to wander away from God's moral standards for our lives.... Which makes me think, you can commit acts of unrighteousness if you don't feed on the Word and bring your body into subjection ... And thus, when you do "miss the mark" or "wander from the path of uprightness and honor" you have a signed, sealed, and delivered guarantee that you can run to your father God and ask his forgiveness. You do this not out of a state of doubting your position or His forgiveness but you do it so your heart doesn't try to make you feel UNrighteous, because you are righteous and you were bought with a price! Praise God we have confidence in the fact that all we have to do is ask and He's already forgiven us!!!!! :)

Til Next Time,
JRT