First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This verse is written to Christians and hinges on the word if. God offers total pardon for every sin His children commit IF we confess it to Him. The word confess implies agreeing with God about how bad our sin is. Repentance, or turning away from it, is part of this confession. For those who have not been pardoned by the blood of Jesus, every sin is unconfessed and unforgiven. Eternal punishment awaits those who refuse to repent of their sin and accept Jesus’ sacrifice for it (2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; John 3:15–18).