If We Say We Have No Sin
The Bible says in 1 John 1:8 that “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Let’s be honest—many of us have read this scripture and breathed out a resounding sigh of relief. (*Whew!*) Because now, when we hear all of the talk about departing from sin and worldliness, living a righteous lifestyle, and being obedient to the Word of God, we have a great rebuttal! In our minds, the notion becomes solidified that all of the people who encourage holiness and godliness are just crazy, fraudulent, “super-spiritual,” Pharisees who are not “transparent” or real about the sins that they have. Then we settle down into our comfort zone of appeasing our fleshly desires, kick up our feet, and live our lives as we please. Because, as we can see, the Bible says anything else would just be deceiving ourselves.
Or so it seems.
Although it may appear that this scripture has declared a life of sin to be inevitable or acceptable, the meaning of this scripture is not in the context of “sinfulness vs. righteousness” but rather “acknowledgement vs. denial.” Take a look at this passage which includes verses 6-10:
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
In other words, if we say we have fellowship with God while living in sin, that’s actually the real lie. And sadly, it’s a lie that makes up a false sense of Christianity for so many people. The scripture says that we can’t be in the Light and in sin simultaneously—that no, we need to be cleansed from our sin. But if we don’t admit that we have sinned, then we are deceived. In order to be cleansed, we actually have to confess rather than try to act as if we have committed no sin. Or as the scripture put it, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The Lord’s will is not that we take comfort in our sin simply due to the fact that He is aware of it. He has let us know by His Holy Word that yes, He knows that we have previously been in sin but that His desire is for us to be cleansed of the sin and to live righteously. If you continue to the very next chapter after this passage, 1 John 2:1-5 says:
“I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
If the Lord intended for us to continue practicing sin, living according to our sensual passions, making provision for our lusts, then there would be no need for Christ. Because without Jesus, we would just continue to be slaves to sin and flesh. In other words, we may as well continue on in the world in that case. But as I’ve noted previously, Jesus came to save the believer from sin itself, not just sin's consequences. The Word says that “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
And I also challenge you today to walk in the same way in which He walked. I challenge you to break free from the continuous cycle of unholy indulgence disguised as authenticity and normalcy, and to adhere to the will of God for His people. A truly authentic believer is one who knows, understands, and obeys the Word of God in faith in Jesus Christ, and there are many people who are transparent in their practice of sin but few who are authentic in their belief in Christ. Let’s bring our hearts and actions into alignment with His will. Be blessed and stay encouraged.
