As we dive into this text this morning, we need to remember that John is writing this letter to believers—genuine followers of Christ—and not specifically to pre-believers even though this passage is often used for evangelistic purposes. The theological truths that are taught in this passage provide foundational principles for the Christian faith, so it makes sense that we would apply the truth of repentance and forgiveness to the pre-believing individual as well.

Just because I have trusted in Christ as my Savior doesn’t mean that I never sin again or need to repent and ask forgiveness. Admitting that you have sin in your life, repenting of that sin, and accepting God’s forgiveness for that sin is an ongoing (never-ending) process in the mortal life of a believer which should cause us to think, speak and act more and more like Jesus every day.