1 John 2:4

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1 John 2:4 (ESV)

John starts verse 4 referencing those who say they know Jesus, “Whoever says ‘I know him'”. Know is the Greek word ginóskó which is to know, recognize or perceive. HELPS defines know as follows:

1097 ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance). 1097 /ginṓskō (“experientially know”) is used for example in Lk 1:34, “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'”

https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm

This is knowledge that is not head knowledge but experiential knowledge. The him which is referenced is the subject of the letter, whom John has previously identified in Chapter 1, Jesus Christ. John is talking to believers, those whose life has been changed by their relationship with Christ.

John is now telling us how to differentiate between those who know Jesus and those who claim to know Jesus with the conjunction, but. What is the but he is referencing? It is those who claim to know Jesus, but do not keep his commandments. Keep is the Greek word téreó which is defined as to watch over or to guard and is often used in the sense of to keep, guard, observe or to watch over.

The subject of this keeping is his commandments and is the Greek word entolé which is defined as injunction, order or command. Helps adds to this definition as follows:

1785 entolḗ (a feminine noun derived from 1722 /en, “in,” which intensifies 5056 /télos, “reach the end, consummation”) – properly, “in the end,” focusing on the end-result (objective) of a command.
[1785 /entolḗ (a feminine noun) highlights the nature of a specific order (charge), i.e. its “in-context objective.”]

https://biblehub.com/greek/1785.htm

John now tells us that a person who makes this claim and does not keep his commandments is a liar. Liar is the Greek word pseustés and is defined simply as a liar, however there is another aspect to what it is to be a liar. Let’s take a moment to compare today’s definition of lair with the definition Webster had in 1828. In modern English a liar is a person who tells lies, but the 1828 editions states a liar as follows:

1. A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who declares to another as a fact what he knows to be not true, and with an intention to deceive him. The uttering of falsehood by mistake, and without an intention to deceive, does not constitute one a liar.
2. One who denies Christ. 1 John 2:4.

http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/liar

A liar is more than just someone who tells lies, it is one in whom Christ does not dwell.

Truth is again, alétheia which is truth in reality. John tells us if he is a liar, that the truth is not in him.

Observation: John seems to be making a very simple statement, however there is depth to the this statement. If we go to the gospel of John in verse 14:1-14, he records a statement that Christ made:

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask me^e anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:-14 (ESV)

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. If we claim to know Jesus and we do not keep or guard God’s commands then we are liars. Liars not only in our declaration of faith, but perhaps we need to bring it to him as we may be lying to ourselves as well. How can Christ dwell in us and our lives not be transformed? How can we profess faith in the sinless one and yet keep on sinning? Christ died for us while we were still sinners, not just so we could go to heaven, but to live a life worthy of the calling He has placed on us. John is telling us to beware of those who would lead us and there life is contrary to there profession. At the same time he is reminding us of who Jesus is, and what that should mean to us. Christ said if you know me you know the Father and he also said “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” Works are necessary not for salvation but they stand as an evidence of the faith we profess. The hope that we now have in Christ. If Christ is truly in us; if truth is truly in us, then He is our hope and this hope should bear witness in us or perhaps better stated our lives should reflect our hope, and the One in whom we hope.

Abba, we come before and know that in you there is absolute truth for You are the source of truth. Father we ask that you would fill us with your truth and let us know we are Yours. Show us the love demonstrated on the cross and show us the mercy shown to us on the cross. For Christ died for us while we were still sinners. That should have been us. Forsaken for eternity. God let our hearts overflow with this transforming truth, and let us stop and consider our hearts before you. Examine us and reveal to us those areas in our lives where faith is not demonstrated. Where we must stop and say, Jesus why am I not changed in this area. What is Your truth say. That Your Spirit would convict us and cause us to bow before You and ask that we would be changed, for Christ’s sake and in His name. Amen.

God bless you,

Steadfast

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1 John 2:3

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 2:3 (ESV)

In this verse John is giving us a test. This test is one that speaks of knowing. “And by this we know that we have come to know him.” Know is used twice in this sentence. It is the Greek word ginóskó, which Strong’s defines as to come to know, recognize or to perceive. HELPS puts it this way:

1097 ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance). 1097 /ginṓskō (“experientially know”) is used for example in Lk 1:34, “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'”

https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm

How can we recognize that we know Christ? John gives us the answer; “If we keep his commandments.”

There is an action here, “If we keep.” Keep is the Greek word téreó which is defined as to watch over or to guard. Thayers Greek Lexicon further breaks it down as to observe. and Helps explains it as:

5083 tēréō (from tēros, “a guard”) – properly, maintain (preserve); (figuratively) spiritually guard (watch), keep intact.

https://biblehub.com/greek/5083.htm

What is it we are to keep? His entolé or commandments, or simply stated his Word.

Observation: I think it was no coincidence that this morning I was reading from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Spiritual Depression, and he was addressing justification versus sanctification. He writes:

“My tests is a positive one. Do I know God? Is Jesus Christ real to me? I am not asking whether you know things about Him but do you know God, is God the centre of your life, the soul of your being, the source of your greatest joy? He is meant to be. He made man in such a way that was to be the position, that man might dwell in communion with God and enjoy God and walk with God.”

Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures. HarperCollins, 1965

John is saying, how can you know if you know Christ? You know this because you keep his word. This is not how we are saved but the result of our salvation. We desire Him. To please Him and to keep His commandments. We are still not sanctified but in the process of it. I was forced this morning to examine myself and ask those questions. I too often listen to myself rather than preach to myself. I have heard it said that God’s Word is a mirror that we should use to see ourselves. His Word is the truth that we need in our lives. We are sinners in need of a savior.

Father, today we ask the question do we know You? Do we know Christ? Give us the hope of assurance that as believers we can have through Your Word. For those of us who are not believers, let us see our need for Christ. Let us see that Your Word holds the key to salvation. It is the Gospel that saves. So often today we see man’s efforts, which are often mislead in a false sense of saving ourselves. We cannot save ourselves from Your wrath. I ask the question if Your Word is true, and I believe it to be because it claims to be, but if it is true than Your judgement will come upon this fallen place and we have a hope. His name is Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and savior who will come again. And the church says come Lord Jesus come. Amen.

God bless you,

Steadfast

1 John 2:2

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2 (ESV)

John here is building upon his previous statement in verse 1 adding that He, Jesus, is the propitiation for our sins.

The word for propitiation is only used two  times by John in the bible. Both of these occurrences are in Johns first epistle; here in chapter 2 and again in chapter 4. It is the Greek word hilasmos. Strong’s defines it as propitiation and it is usage is as a propitiation (of an angry god), atoning sacrifice. HELPS states it as follows:

2434hilasmós – properly, propitiation; an offering to appease (satisfy) an angry, offended party. 2434 (hilasmós) is only used twice (1 Jn 2:2, 4:10) – both times of Christ’s atoning blood that appeases God’s wrath, on all confessed sin. By the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus Christ provided the ultimate 2434/hilasmós (“propitiation”). 

HELPS Word-studies from biblehub.com

Hilasmos comes from the word hilaskomai which also comes from the Greek word hileós. These words mean to make atonement to an angry God. To appease His wrath. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. Simply put we cannot stand before God and make atonement on our behalf. The only penalty for sin is death and on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty. If not for the death of Jesus upon the cross, it would be our death.

I want to stop for a moment, as we have talked about sin previously and focus on this word our. Our indicates it is sin that belongs to us. It is my sin and yours. Since God is creator, and he has designed us, and since this includes defining how we are to live. Anything we do contrary to God’s moral character and contrary to His law is sin. To reiterate, Sin is punishable by death according to God’s word. It is for our sin that Jesus made atonement.

John adds to this statement, and not only our but the sins of the whole world. I think that is pretty clear in meaning. This atonement is sufficient for the entire world.

Observation: God hates sin. He hates sin so much He gave His only begotten Son to bear the punishment for my sin and yours. In that atonement we also see the mercy of God. Some say Christians are narrow because they claim Jesus is the only way. It is God who has established the way not us. We are to bear witness to the one who saves from the wrath of God, Jesus. Is it narrow minded for God to provide mercy for us? I heard R.C. Sproul once say  during a lecture on sin, if I were to die and go to hell I would be surprised, but I also would be deserving. If I were to die and go to hell, I would be deserving as well, but for Jesus. I have a way. It is the blood of the Lamb of God who has made atonement for me. It is the blood of the Lamb of God who made atonement for you. I don’t call that narrow, I call that grace. My punishment has been taken, and Jesus Christ is my advocate with the Father. My debt has been paid, thank you Jesus. A holy God needs a holy people. We can fight against what God has said, but when Christ returns we all will have an account to give. Thanks be to God that we have an advocate for those who are in Christ.

Father, we come before you and can only offer thanks. Thanks because for those in Christ there is no condemnation. When you judge the world, those counted as yours will be saved from your judgement. The judgement of sin and the penalty which we deserve. There is nothing we can do except trust in the name of Jesus Christ. The way, the truth and the life. Lord let us be a beacon of hope for your glory and a vessel of truth. The truth of Your Word and the gospel of Jesus. Let us boldly proclaim the hope that you have placed within us. That we may share and the nations may hear. In Jesus name, amen.

God bless you,

Steadfast

1 John 2:1

1 John 2:1

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

John starts chapter 2 referring to his audience. Little children is a term of affection, and it states relationship in a kind gentle way. It is the Greek word teknion, and it is a diminutive of teknon. Teknon is a term used to refer to the children of God.

He know tells us the reason for this letter. I am writing these things to you so that. So that is a conjunction, which denotes purpose, definition or result. What is the desired result? That you may not sin. Helps gives the definition as follows:

361 mḗ (a particle which functions as an adverb) – no, not. 3361 (mḗ) negates “subjectively,” ruling out any implications (“suggestions“) that could be involved with what should (could, would) apply.
3361 /mḗ (“not”) negates the underlying idea (concept) of a statement, ruling out its possibilities, i.e. all that it suggests on a conceptual or hypothetical plane.
[3361 /mḗ (“not, no”) then negates the implications (suggestions) that naturally spring from the negated statement.

This is in reference to the subject of the desired result, sin. What should happen is that we would not sin. This is not to say that we do not, but rather our desire would be not to commit offense against our Heavenly Father. It is also given as direction. John is telling us we should not sin, but he is also aware of our fallen state.

But is the Greek word kai which is a conjunction and it is not used as an alternative or however. It is used to join sentences and connect matters. It is meant as an and, even or also. If refers to the possibility of something. What is this possibility? It is again referring to sin. John says don’t sin, and if you do we, this is how it works.

We have, is the Greek word echo and means to hold or posses. Thayer’s says it is used in the sense of to have at the ready or have in store. And what is it we have at the ready? An advocate with the Father. Helps puts it this way:

3875 paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, “from close-beside” and 2564 /kaléō, “make a call”) – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 3875 /paráklētos (“advocate, advisor-helper”) is the regular term in NT times of an attorney (lawyer) – i.e. someone giving evidence that stands up in court.

This advocate is with the Father, and He has a name. Jesus Christ. In this instance John also to the name of Christ, the righteous one. Righteous in this sentence is to be approved by God or righteous in the eyes of God. It is conformity to God’s standard, of which we all fall short. It is also to be upright before the Father.

Observation: John continues the legal argument, beginning first to present the witnesses, and to whom the witness bear testimony; Jesus Christ. John also tells us to confess our sins. To proclaim and throw ourselves on the mercy of the one who can defend us. Jesus Christ. He can defend us because He is blameless before the Father. He can defend us because He bore our penalty. We cannot proclaim our innocence before God. We can only proclaim our guilt. John is telling us to live a certain way. To walk in the light and in fellowship with the Son and the saints. To walk holy lives, and know that when we miss the mark, we have an advocate who pleads our case. How much more thankful should we be? To know that our sins are forgiven because of Jesus Christ, in whom we trust.

Father, Thank you. Thank you that because of Christ we are blameless. Not without sin but rather guilty as charged, but because of Jesus we are seen as innocent in your eyes. Innocent because he took our guilt and blame. Innocent because You have made a way for us to be restored to You. Lord help us to live upright and holy lives. To live this way not because we are righteous but because we are Christ’s. I do not have my own righteousness, but rather am deserving of Your penalty. Thank you Jesus, may I never forget what You have done on my behalf. May I live in response to what You have done on my behalf. Praise be to you, for You are holy and righteous. In Jesus name, amen.

God bless you,

Steadfast

1 John 1:10

1 John 1:10

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

What does it mean to make God a liar? In verse 8, John was talking of us being self deceived and saying we have no sin. Here in verse 10, John says if we say we have not sinned. This verb is a different one than from verse 8. Here it is the Greek hamartanó which means to miss the mark. That is in contrast to verse 8 which is to hold or possess.

The result of this denial is that we make him a liar. What does it mean to make? It is pretty much what you would think. The verb here is 
poieó which is to make or do. But what is the effect? we make him a liar? In Johns gospel, he goes to truth constantly. In effect showing us what truth looks like. He uses the verb alétheia, truth, twenty times in his gospel record.

• John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
• John 3:21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
• John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
• John 5:33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
• John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
• John 8:40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
• John 8:44-46 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
• John 14:17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
• John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
• John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
• John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
• John 17:19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
• John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

So if the Word of God is truth, and Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and the Holy Spirit is truth; What is it they all bear witness to? We are a fallen sinful creature, created by God. In Christ, the only begotten Son of God, we have redemption by the cross. The blameless Son of God died in our place. A truth that is borne witness to by the Holy Spirit. The very confession of our sin, admission before God that we have missed it. That we are deserving of is judgment. To deny that we have missed it, makes Gods word null. Not to the effect that His word untrue, but rather it makes us untrue. It makes us a false witness.

The Greek word here for liar is pseustés. Helps defines it as follows:

Cognate: 5583 pseústēs (from 5574/pseúdomai, “to falsify, lie”) – properly, a lair; a person who falsifies, misrepresents (distorts, misleads).

The truth is, either God’s word is true or it isn’t. The Bible doesn’t say it is mostly true, or generally true. It says it is truth. That means either it is or it isn’t. The bible says if we deny this truth than we do not have the truth in us. To make God a liar here means to say, that we know what sin is, and we don’t sin or God doesn’t judge our sin. It means to say that we can take the pieces of the bible we like and forget about the rest. It says that God is a liar because He does not condemn sin.

Observation: Have you ever thought about the cross? John wrote an entire Gospel account on Jesus, and constructing the argument for who Jesus is. Over and over he reiterates what is truth. This is the same John whom Jesus called when he walked by him on the shore. The same John who was one of the twelve whom Jesus walked with. The same John who witnessed the miracles of Jesus. The one who was at the cross and saw Jesus crucified and whom Jesus spoke to from the cross. He beat Peter to the tomb when they heard it was empty. He saw Christ resurrected from the dead. He saw Jesus ascend into heaven. This is the same John who was the last of the twelve and had seen all of them, including his brother, killed for spreading the gospel of Jesus. Sharing the very details of the one whom they followed even to the grave. This John who desperately wants us not to see the Jesus we want, but to see who Jesus is. The one who simultaneously loved us unto death and at the same time took the penalty for our sin.

Father thank you. Thank you for your mercy new today. For redemption in Christ. For I am a sinful creature. I cannot even count the times I miss it throughout the day. Sometimes Lord I even more than miss it. I rebel against your word. Knowing what is right and wrong and doing what I know to be wrong. Other times I may not even realize it until after I have sinned against you, when Your Spirit bears witness in my conscience of my err. Lord I thank you because if I were to end up in hell it would be rightfully so, yet you give us a hope. And this hope is Jesus. The same Jesus who took my sin upon himself. Lord let us see the cross today and always. Seeing our guilt and your mercy. Lord embrace with the truth of Your word, by the power of the Spirt. Bear witness in us, that we need Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. Lord today give us life in Christ. That we may bear witness to Your glory. Amen.

God bless you,
Steadfast

1 John 1:9

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.

John here is giving us the alternative condition to the previous statement of denial and deception. If we confess; what does this mean? Confess comes from the Greek word homologeó. This word comes from two words homoú and légō. Homoú which at its base means together, and légō, which is to speak to conclusion. It means to come to the same conclusion. What conclusion? The subject of this confession is sin. Sin is what we are guilty of according to God’s word. The argument here is that we can either deny our guilt before our Holy creator or we can admit, concede, confess our sin. Where we know, that we have missed the mark in the eyes of our creator. Where we have willfully and knowingly done wrong and at times this knowing is only in our conscience. Since we are created by God, he created our conscience as well and this conscience bears witness to our Holy God and his decrees. Deep within us, even if we don’t know God’s word, we know what is right and what is wrong. Will we admit or deny the error in our ways?

In the next part of the sentence we are told of two attributes of God. He is faithful and just. I think we often hear of God’s faithfulness. In essence it means that God is trustworthy and reliable. He is the subject of our faith, we are to trust and rely in Him because He is faithful. But there is another attribute revealed and that it is He is just. Helps describes just as follows:

Cognate: 1342 díkaios (an adjective, derived from dikē, “right, judicial approval”) – properly, “approved by God” (J. Thayer); righteous; “just in the eyes of God” (Souter). See 1343 (“dikaiosynē).
[“Righteous” relates to conformity to God’s standard (justice). For more on the root-idea see the cognate noun, 1343 /dikaiosýnē (“righteousness”).]
1342 /díkaios (“righteous, just”) describes what is in conformity to God’s own being (His will, standard of rightness); hence “upright.”

How can we, a sinful creation, be righteous in the eyes of God, whom is right to convict us of violating His law? Confession. God’s word is truth and it was in the beginning. Jesus is the word of God. Jesus went to the cross, yes because he loves us, also, because God is holy, because there has to be a penalty for sin. We know this when we watch the news and we see the evilness or horror that some humans perpetuate against others. Deep within us we desire to see justice, we know that there must be consequence. If there is no consequence for these actions, than we are lost. We are lost because what can we hope for?  When we see justice met, our being responds and knows it is right. We are created in the image of a faithful and just God who requires justice. It is a joint statement, not a singular statement. God is faithful to forgive us and just to forgive us if we confess our sins, trusting that the penalty for sin has been met on the cross.

There is another part, he not only forgives us, but cleanses us. Cleanse comes from the Greek word katharizó, which is where we get catheter. This act of confession which leads to forgiveness also makes us free from the guilt of sin and pure in the eyes of God. John was speaking to a people who are very familiar with the requirements being clean before coming to God. In the Jewish culture, in what is known of the day of atonement,  if the high priest had not met the requirements that God ordained, he would die in God’s presence. That is what happens if we come before a holy God and are not right in His eyes. That is what will happen when we come face to face with our Creator.

Observation: Sin requires death. In those days it was the sacrifice of animals. But not just any, the best. God said give me your best. This was trusting God as animals were part of their life, part of their provision. The blood of these sacrifices symbolized life. Sin requires death, therefore it also required sacrifice. God took that penalty, the required blood and His only son, Jesus, and He became the sacrifice for us. He took, the shame and guilt of sin and bore it in our place. When we meet God, there will be one of two outcomes. We will be forgiven or we will be convicted. Not because God wants us to be guilty, but because God’s law requires that we be guilty. How can God be faithful if He does not hold us accountable? How could we trust His character if He is not trustworthy. Not just faithful, but just. Right to call us guilty. Right to require blood for our sin. Right to convict us with the penalty for this sin; death. John knew Jesus. He was called by him, and walked with Him. He was with Jesus in the garden when he was arrested. He saw the humiliation and suffering that he endured. He recognized who Jesus was and that it should have been him. That blood on the cross was shed for the apostles, who later endured much pain and even death. Why? Because John knew, that he should have died upon that cross, but instead Jesus took his place. Why did John write these letters. Yes to show us our guilt, but also to show us our hope. I truly think that we today so desire to be accepted, that we often excuse guilt. We often say it’s just who I am, or I am not as bad as. That is fine if there is no standard. But what if there is? What if the bible is what it claims to be? The word of God. What if Jesus is who he claimed to be? The son of God, who died for my sins and for yours?

Father, help us today to see truth. Truth of our unrighteousness and truth of your righteous. Truth of our faithlessness, and truth of You who are faithful. That is we will confess our sin, our guilt before you, if we will confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour you will be faithful and just to forgive us our sins and makes us right. Lord forgive me, I have sinned against you more times than I would like to admit in this weekend alone. Lord help me to submit to Your will and to focus not on being who I think I should be, but who You have called me to be. Even in writing this Lord, I apologize for not yielding to you in this calling. Forgive, make me right and I ask that you show us truth through Your Word, and convince by the power of the Holy Spirit. That we would not walk in darkness but rather walk in the Light of Jesus Christ. Amen

God bless you,

Steadfast

1 John 1:8

1 John 1:8

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

John here rights to add further clarity to what it means to walk as a believer. In 1 John 1:6, he wrote “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”. This is a place where we are deceiving others.

In verse 8 he builds upon that statement. Now John moves our claim to saying “If we say have no sin, we deceive ourselves”. Here he is speaking to the church. Making an explicit statement that uses the word deception.

Deception is the Greek word planaó which is defined as to cause to wander or to wander. Helps gives the description:

4105 planáō – properly, go astray, get off-course; to deviate from the correct path (circuit, course), roaming into error, wandering; (passive) be misled.
[4105 (planáō) is the root of the English term, planet (“wandering body”). This term nearly always conveys the sin of roaming (for an exception – see Heb 11:38).]

Strong’s also addresses the metaphorical use, to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive.

In the previous statement we were said to be misrepresenting the gospel, now we are moving to error within the church, as John states this deception is a self deception; “We deceive ourselves”. Ourselves can be used not only in a singular sense to address an individual, but in a plural sense and in this case John again is talking about us, the church, the body of Christ.

The result of this deception is the truth is not in us. John had been building an argument for Jesus, speaking of the truth of who He is. He also uses that word in again, which refers to the internal state that we operate from.

In John’s gospel there are the I am statements, and in John 15:1-17, Jesus says I am the true vine and explains what this means.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Observation: John seems to reminding his audience as to what the gospel is, and what it is we are saved from. It is our sin. If we have no sin, we have no truth. Truth is a person, and His name is Christ. If truth is not in us, than Christ is not in us and by contrast if Christ is not in us, than truth is not in us. If we say we have no sin, than we are denying Christ because this is error. Christ came that we might be saved from our sin. If we do not have Christ then we cannot call ourselves Christians, as we cannot belong to Him.

Father, how hard it is sometimes for us to see truth. Your Word and Your claims are explicit, yet we find ways to make it fit for our own purpose. Let us not misrepresent You, nor be in error. Let truth abide in us, that we may have fellowship with You and one another. That we may represent You on this earth and bear testimony to Your goodness and Your mercy, to the church and to the world around us. Lord forgive us, for none of us is without sin, and none of us are without error. Let your truth touch those places within us, to bear witness and bring change. Change that lines us up with Your Word, by the power of Your Spirit. Let us know truth as Your Spirit bears witness and brings these things to light. In Jesus name we ask and we pray. Amen

God bless you,

Steadfast