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Some people claim that the verse 1 John 1:8 from the Bible proves that everyone, even saved Christians, will continually sin for their whole lives.
1 John 1: 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But these people are taking the Bible out of context. If indeed that were what this meant, why would John say, just a few verses later:
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
If John were trying to say we cannot stop sinning, this would make no sense. But what in fact he is saying that everyone HAS sinned, and will continue to sin, IF they do not turn to Jesus. So what does verse 1:8 mean? It means if, before we are saved, we deny we have any reason to be saved at all, salvation is impossible for us. Just read the verse right before it:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin
Jesus takes away our sinful nature! Look at the verse right after 1:8 -
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Amen! John isn't talking about habitual sinning. He is talking about our state BEFORE salvation, before confessing ourselves to the Lord, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
The truth that the apostle is teaching is as follows: if we claim to be without sin in the sense of "I've never sinned; I have no need of purification or forgiveness; I have no charges against me," then we do deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Picture two thieves who are both guilty of murder, standing accountable before the judge of heaven and earth. One bows his knee and confesses his crime, while the other refuses and says, "I have done nothing wrong." This is the situation addressed herein.
And don't forget these passages:
James 1:21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
1 John 1: 5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 3:4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3 John 1: 11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
1 Peter 1: 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Galatians 5: 7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
1 John 1: 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But these people are taking the Bible out of context. If indeed that were what this meant, why would John say, just a few verses later:
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
If John were trying to say we cannot stop sinning, this would make no sense. But what in fact he is saying that everyone HAS sinned, and will continue to sin, IF they do not turn to Jesus. So what does verse 1:8 mean? It means if, before we are saved, we deny we have any reason to be saved at all, salvation is impossible for us. Just read the verse right before it:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin
Jesus takes away our sinful nature! Look at the verse right after 1:8 -
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Amen! John isn't talking about habitual sinning. He is talking about our state BEFORE salvation, before confessing ourselves to the Lord, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
The truth that the apostle is teaching is as follows: if we claim to be without sin in the sense of "I've never sinned; I have no need of purification or forgiveness; I have no charges against me," then we do deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Picture two thieves who are both guilty of murder, standing accountable before the judge of heaven and earth. One bows his knee and confesses his crime, while the other refuses and says, "I have done nothing wrong." This is the situation addressed herein.
And don't forget these passages:
James 1:21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
1 John 1: 5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 3:4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3 John 1: 11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
1 Peter 1: 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Galatians 5: 7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
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