1 John 1:9

The James Method Verse Mapping

I have recently started doing verse mapping using the James Method. To see a description of this method, click here. I am starting with the book of 1 John. I won’t map every verse, but I’ll try to hit the highlights and see where that takes me!

Here’s one of my favorite pictures from this verse map. My cat, Squeaker (named for her squeaky voice), likes to snuggle under the blanket while I do my morning devotions. It gets a bit crowded on my lap!

1 John 1:9

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

1 John 1:9 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Going through the verse mapping process brought out a couple new ideas.

1. The Greek word for “confess” used in 1 John 1:9 to refer to confessing our sins uses the same root word used for “profess” in Romans 10:9-10: ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

2. The word “forgive” means to send away, which brought to mind Psalm 103:12:

   as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.