1 John 1:8

1 Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us.

The above scripture is a very common verse that people use to support the idea that a Christian
will always be living in sin. Unfortunately this understanding is the predominant view within the
Church System today.

In this article I intend to succinctly yet thoroughly pull down this stronghold in the light of truth.



In the Gospel of John we find Jesus telling the woman caught in adultery to go and sin no more
and not long after that He also states that that those who commit sin are slaves of sin.

Joh 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and
sin no more.

Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is
the servant of sin.


Jesus then went on to say that one can be set free by the Son.

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

In the book of Romans we see Paul in agreement with Jesus .

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

A true believer does not to continue in sin because they are no longer under its dominion, they
have been set free.

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but
under grace.
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God
forbid.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants
ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the
heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Both Jesus and Paul affirmed that one can be set free from sin. With this in mind let's take a
closer look at what John wrote.

John opens his letter by speaking of that which he bore witness to and how he wanted to share it
with those he was writing to that they may share in the same fellowship with the Father.

1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with
our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1Jn 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto
you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ.
1Jn 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John then goes on to describe that God is light without any darkness at all and that those who
claim fellowship with God yet walk in darkness are actually liars. Light and darkness do not mix.

1 Jn 1:5 This 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.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth:

This is very similar to the comments that Jesus made which are recorded in Matthew's Gospel.

Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body
shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Back to John's letter and we read...

1Jn 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.

This is a very important verse because it clearly states that the blood of Jesus Christ only
cleanses a believer from all sin on the condition that they are walking in the light. This is the
cleansing that removes the guilt and condemnation of past sins.

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

It is the purging of the conscience whereby a believer is completely reconciled to God and is thus
able to serve God in an acceptable manner. The sins of the past are the dead works which are
purged. The result is purity.

Heb_9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This understanding clearly shows the utter folly of believing that one can be cleansed of all sin
and yet still remain in sin.

We now come to the oft misunderstood verse.


1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

John is now speaking about repentance, he is teaching that one must not cover over their sins
but rather must confess them. If someone says they have no sin, in the sense of never having
sinned, then they do not have the truth. If they confess and forsake their sins then they can
begin to walk in the light and the blood of Christ can purge them of their past transgressions.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.

John gives this same teaching of Jesus in John Chapter 3
JN 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
JN 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
JN 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God.

1 John 1:8 and John 3:21 say the same thing. If you DO TRUTH then you come to the light to
have your deeds made manifest. Confess and forsake your sins.

This understanding harmonises perfectly with Scripture.

Jer 26:13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the
LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced
against you.

Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh
them shall have mercy.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son the son forsakes the pig pen and returns to the Father.

Luk 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and before thee,
Luk 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his
father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Luk 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy
sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luk 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and
put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

It is a very simple message. God offers forgiveness to all those who will stop doing evil and
return to Him. If we confess (and forsake) our sins the Father will not only forgive us of our sins
but will also cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Again, this cleansing will only occur if one is to
walk in the light.

The message that is preached in the church system today is the complete opposite to all this..
Satan has beguiled most professing Christian's that they can be presented as a chaste virgin to
Christ while they remain living in sin.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The next verse in John chapter 1 has John reinforcing that one cannot come to God without

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.


John then goes on in verse 10 to reinforce the point that it is essential that one must admit their
wrongdoing.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

If we continue on into Chapter 2 we see one of the reasons that John is writings these things.

1Jn 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:

Thus he could not possibly be saying in 1Jo1:8 that the sin never stops as many in the church
system falsely believe.

We can also see that it states that "IF" (not when) any man sin that we have an advocate with
the Father. What sort of sin is John talking about here?

It cannot be willful sin because in chapter 3 he says this...

1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In 1Jo 2:1 he is speaking of sin that is not willful. In other words, things that a believer may do
by mistake, a misjudgment. Definitely not willful rebellion to God. That is out of the question in
a true believer.

To sin presumptuously against grace is deadly because it is treating the blood of Christ as cheap.
It is treating it like the blood of animals which could not cleanse a person of all unrighteousness.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour
the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy,
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite
unto the Spirit of grace?

Under the Old Covenant presumptuous sin was not acceptable.

Num 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the
land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from
among his people.
Num 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his
commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

Yet today presumptuous sin is considered normal in the church system. As long as you feel bad
about it and confess it then you are forgiven. Many may believe this but it comes from the minds
of men, not from the Scripture.

Such confessions are not genuine because because there is no godly sorrow.

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but
the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what
carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation,
yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all
things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Those who go through a true godly sorrow which works a genuine repentance unto a genuine
salvation are not going to be living in sin. There is no possible way.

Satan does not want people understanding this.

Using 1Jo 1:8 to justify a life of continued sin in the believer is an understanding from the pit.
Those who adhere to such a teaching will often have a form of godliness but due to this error
they will deny the power of the Gospel to set them free from the bondage of sin.

It is Satan who wants people to believe that they "shall not surely die" and that they "cannot
obey God." Such poison is deadly.

Don't be deceived by the ministers of Satan who appear as ministers of righteousness twisting
the word of God to their own destruction.

2 Co 11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ.
2Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the
other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him
be glory both now and for ever. Amen.