Many people understand that 1 John 1:9 is to be taken as instructions for the believer in this age of Grace. The act of confessing is taken as a step for renewing our fellowship with God after we have broken that fellowship by sinning. When we confess our sins, He will forgive and cleanse us and the fellowship will be renewed.
I feel, however, that there are many problems with this particular interpretation and think there is a better, more Scripturally consistent way to deal with this verse. read more »