Sins and Forgiveness
1 John 1:8-10
"If we claim that we have no sin, we are deceiving 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. If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10, EMTV)
A1 Outline
B1 Conditional sentence 1. 1 John 1:8
C1 If
D1 We claim
D2 That we have no sin
C2 Main clause
D1 We are deceiving
E1 Ourselves
D2 The truth is
E1 Not
E2 In us
B2 Conditional sentence 2. 1 John 1:9
C1 If
D1 We confess
E1 Our sins
C2 Main clause
D1 He is
E1 Faithful
E2 Just
F1 To
G1 Forgive
H1 Us
H2 Our sins
G2 Cleanse
H1 Us
H2 From all unrighteousness
B3 Conditional sentence 3. 1 John 1:10
C1 If
D1 We claim
D2 That we have not sinned
C2 Main clause
D1 We make
E1 Him
E2 A liar
D2 His word
E1 Is
E2 Not
E3 In us
A2 Notes
B1 Three types of conditional sentences (Condition and result clauses. The condition clause starts with the word if. The main clause starts with the word then or equivalent).
C1 Types
D1 Possible (If it rains, the grass will become wet. If I stand in the rain, I will get wet. If I drink coffee at night, I stay awake).
D2 Not possible (If I were a king, I would not live here. If I were you, I would save that money).
D3 In the past (If it would have rained, the grass would have become wet. If she would have treated me like that, I would just walk away. If I had to do it all over again, things would be different).
C2 Usually start with the word if or have if in the sentence.
C3 For more information see here, here, or here.
B2 1 John 1:8 – First conditional. This is one of the tests in 1 John for us to know if we are a Christian. Do we acknowledge that we are sinners, do sin, and have sinned?
B3 1 John 1:9 – Second conditional. This is test two. Will we confess not only are we sinners but also our sins to God? If not, there is a problem.
B4 1 John 1:10 – Third conditional. This is the third test. A very serious issue confronts us. If we refuse to acknowledge that we are sinners, then our diagnosis is we are calling God a liar and His word is not in us. If this is our attitude, then we need to confess this sin to God.
A3 Questions
B1 Does 1 John 1:8 refer to a position of being sinless or referring to being caught in sin and proclaiming your innocence (when you are not innocent)?
B2 If we are deceived and the truth is not in us, does that mean we are not Christians? (No, it may be where we believe at that moment. If we continue and/or teach this about sin, it is obvious that we are a fake, a false convert. We must face the reality of our sinfulness and the forgiven in Christ).
B3 What is deception? How to we avoid being deceived?
B4 Since truth is so important to God, what are some ways we don't face, acknowledge, say, do, etc. the truth?
B5 Why is the truth so hard to admit?
B6 What is humbly accepting the fact that we do break God's law so difficult to acknowledge?
