1 John 1:7 Because if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
God promises to forgive all our sins. The blood of Jesus cleans every sin. The death of Christ pays for all the sins we have ever done, are doing now, or will ever do. The promise is that we always clean and continually being cleaned, because it is the sinner, the person, the whole man who is forgiven. Therefore the individual sins we commit are washed away. I believe I am forgiven, completely, not just sin by sin. The continual presence of the Blood that cleanses me washes away the particular sins for which I feel guilty.
The awesome promise says that I am holy, righteous, clean, pure, and unstained. We can live our lives in perfect peace with God. We can always enjoy the joy of the Lord. We can bask in the heavenly rays of God’s love. We can be assured that we are right with God. We are clean.
This awesome promise, however, does contain a condition: if we walk in the light, then the blood of Jesus cleanses us. ”Walking in the light” is not the cause of the cleansing, but it is the means of receiving what God does by grace. It is faith. It is faith that receives the gift. We make sure that we are in grace by weekly and daily repentance and faith in the gospel. We stay connected to Jesus; we abide in the Vine. Grace applies the blood; faith receives it.
Walking signifies living and being. We are always and continually in the light. This of daily walking is reinforced by going to church, attending Bible study, and spending time alone with God. When we feel guilty for specific sins we confess sin and confess Jesus. The sin and guilt are washed away.