1 John 1:8 - Meaning and Application

Here, the apostle, after saying that even those who share in this heavenly fellowship still have sin, now supports that point by showing the awful results of denying it. He does this in two ways.

If we say, “We have no sin,” we fool ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). We must be careful not to deceive ourselves by denying or excusing our sins. The more clearly we see our sin, the more we will value God’s remedy for it. If we deny our sin, then the truth is not in us, either because we are telling a lie against the truth, or because the truth of the Christian faith is not shaping us.

Christianity is the religion of sinners, people who have sinned and still have sin within them in some measure. The Christian life is a life of ongoing repentance, humble grief over sin, and putting sin to death. It is also a life of continual faith in the Redeemer, thankfulness to him, love for him, and hopeful joy as we wait for the day of full redemption. Then the believer will be fully cleared, and sin will be gone forever.

If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make God a liar, and his word is not in us (1 John 1:10). Denying our sin does more than fool ourselves, it brings dishonor on God. It questions his truthfulness. He has given strong testimony both about the sin of the world and against it.

God’s own declaration was this, that he would not again curse the ground for man’s sake, because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from youth, as he had already seen in the flood judgment (Genesis 8:21). God has also shown the world’s continuing sinfulness by providing a full and effective sacrifice for sin, one that would be needed in every age. He has shown believers’ continuing sinfulness by commanding them to keep confessing their sins and to keep coming in faith to the blood of that sacrifice.

So if we say either that we have not sinned or that we do not still sin, then God’s word is not in us. It is not in our minds, because we do not truly know it as we should. It is not in our hearts, because it does not have the practical power it should have over us.

The apostle then teaches believers how they may continue in the pardon of their sins. The duty is this: “If we confess our sins” (1 John 1:9). Penitent confession, that is, humble and sorrowful admitting of sin, is the believer’s proper work and the means of being delivered from guilt.

The encouragement is found in God’s character. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God is faithful to his covenant and to his word, because he has promised forgiveness to penitent believers who confess. He is just to himself and to his glory, because he has provided such a sacrifice, and in this way his righteousness is shown in forgiving sinners.

He is also just to his Son, because he sent him for this very work and promised him that all who come through him will be forgiven for his sake. “By his knowledge,” meaning by the believer’s trustful understanding of him, “my righteous servant will justify many” (Isaiah 53:11). God is also kind and gracious, so he will forgive the humble confessor all his sins, cleanse him from the guilt of all unrighteousness, and in time deliver him from its power and practice.