1 John 1:8-10

God’s children walk in the light AND need continual cleansing

Not only is this not a contradiction, but to say otherwise is proof that we are not in the light (can’t sway too harshly towards vv. 6-7 or vv. 8-10)

The Child of God and Sin (vv. 8, 10)

Unrepentant sin points to a false conversion (see v. 9)

Sin for the believer is excruciating and brings (by the Holy Spirit) a need to repent

Deceitfulness of sinlessness

Three horrendous points of view that have deceived mankind: (1) Sin is subjective (2) misunderstanding of universal sin (3) I have been sanctified to sinlessness

Deceitfulness is utterly horrifying. The very nature of being deceived is an inability to realize you’re in trouble to begin with (nature of deceit - Esther 6:1-12).

James describes sin just this way (James 1:13-18) -> “begat he us with the word of truth” -> Praise God we have a true word that sheds the holy light of a holy God on sin that we may not be deceived!

If you make the false profession of v. 8 (unbothered by sin), you are deceived (even though you don’t realize it)

Those that proclaim this call God a liar (v. 10).

The horror of standing before the face of God and calling Him a liar is hard to stomach. This is what the person does who proclaims they are without sin.

Their word holds no weight (Romans 3:1-4; Psalm 51:4) -> God has never had a counselor, and He does not intend to start with us (Romans 11:33-36)

Confessing Sin (v. 9)

Low self-esteem is not inherently a sign of a genuine believer.

The genuine believer is well aware that they sin (burdened, convicted, and chastised).

Yet in all this, there is great comfort to be found in v. 9. The genuine believer knows that God is faithful and just to forgive sin (Isaiah 1:18)

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15; Romans 7:24-8:1)!