The difference between the old covenant and the new covenant is not that the sins were not actually forgiven under the old covenant but are actually forgiven under the new covenant.

The difference is that under the old covenant the sins were only forgiven but under the new covenant they are forgiven and then removed. This is why the new covenant is superior.

Christ was manifested to take away our sins (I John 3:5), not just to forgive our sins but to take away our sins. There is no sin in Christ and there is to be no sin in the person who is abiding in Christ.

Regardless of any analysis of the verbs and participles of the Greek language, hypothetical applications, allegorical reasoning, or similitudes or explanations of any other type, the sense of the Book of First John is that the purpose of Christ is to take away our sins and if we are continuing in sin we have no part in Him.

If we once grasp the sense of a book of the Bible then we don't get into distortions or misapplications of a given passage, as has happened with Romans 6:23, Hebrews 2:3, and Hebrews 6:4-6 for example.

There is no sin in Christ. If we say we are part of Him, and then do not work with Him in purifying ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit, we have not seen Him and we do not know Him. This is what John is saying.

Reread the Book of First John and see if our interpretation is sound, not being forced in any area.

I think you will agree with me that this passage, at least, is not an assurance of salvation. Rather it is an exhortation and warning concerning how we live our life in relationship to Christ.

Okay so far?

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (I John 3:6)

The idea is if we are continuing in sin we have neither seen Christ nor known Him.

We all sin from time to time. The point is how we regard sin, what we do about it.

If we confess our sin, naming it before the Lord, resolve to turn away from it with the Lord's help, then we are forgiven and cleansed. If it doesn't work the first time we hit it again. We keep on coming against the particular sin, sometimes with the help of other Christians, until it is out of us totally. No halfway measures allowed!

But if we reason away the necessity for deliverance from sin, then we are outside the Scripture.

The current Evangelical doctrine is that we ought to try to do good, but even if we don't we will go to Heaven by grace. This is a lie. This is straight from Satan. The Scripture does not teach that even if you fail to overcome you still will receive the rewards designated for the overcomer.

To be continued.