How do we know that confession does not absolve us from sin?

In 1 John 1:9, it states, 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.' However, to understand this correctly, we must recognize that the forgiveness and purification that God grants are not a result of our act of confession itself but are founded upon the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. While confession is vital, it serves to acknowledge our wrongdoing and is part of our process of repentance. It does not purchase our forgiveness. Instead, our purification comes exclusively through the blood of Christ, which cleanses us from all sin, as clarified in the preceding verses.

Thus, true confession ought not to lead us into a mistaken belief that we earn God's favor through admitting our sins. Instead, it should drive us to a greater appreciation of the grace and mercy that God has already shown us through Christ. Our community of faith must avoid the pitfall of equating confession with absolution and focus on the heart of the gospel, which is the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins and our rightful response in humility and gratitude.