If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
An overriding goal of any Christian is to not sin. We all have varying success at reaching that goal, but no one is ever completely successful at eradicating sin from their life. The apostle John puts this fact this way, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
So when we do sin we are called to come to Jesus Christ who is the only one who can defend us and forgive us. From confession comes atonement for the sins and a righteousness that we, by ourselves, cannot find or create.
A corollary goal is to continue to improve ourselves by sinning less and less so that righteousness might abound in our lives. We are taught that this requires us to obey Jesus Christ. John wrote, We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. (1 John 2:3)
How does one come to know Jesus and what are his commands? The answer is through the reading of the Bible.
