As we approach a season when many churches and ministers will be teaching on the life, death, and resurrection of YEHOSHUA HAMASHIACH, the anointed salvation of GOD, Christ our Lord, it is a good time to revisit the true narrative of sin and salvation as presented by the Apostle John, as he writes from the perspective as he put it:
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, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; (1 John 1:1-3)
John in his letter is inviting us into the true fellowship of the faith of Christ. To enter this fellowship, we must accept the testimony of Christ as taught by Christ and the Holy Spirit and not after the tradition of men. I am putting forward here a clarifying of the understanding of the teaching of John in his letter because I have found that so many have adopted an understanding that is not liberating, and if it is not liberating, then it cannot be true, because Christ the Savior taught the you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. If the truth you hold and profess keeps you in bondage, then it can’t be the truth of Christ. Understanding what John was teaching regarding sin in the book of 1 John. This is by no means exhaustive, but a primer to understand his perspective as received firsthand from the teachings of Christ.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
If we say we offend GOD in no way, we deceive ourselves and the truth that would convict us has been rejected. Of a truth, none of those John was writing to at that time and most likely none of us have reached the point where there is nothing in us that needs purging of the rudiments of this world. So, we are all still going through the sanctification of truth, which is to say we are still learning as dear children what the will of our Father is in every aspect of our lives. This was never meant to imply that we are all still willfully rebelling against the commands of GOD, because the one that is still willfully rebelling is not taking up his cross in self-denial, and if he is not doing that then he is not following Christ the lord, which at the least means he has back slidden. 1 John 1:8 is not saying we are all in a back slidden state. Just that we are all still on the journey of purging and sanctification of truth.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
This verse affirms that if when we are convicted by the Spirit of truth of an offence and we agree with the verdict and repent, then there is grace and forgiveness available through the new covenant for cleansing and transformation.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
If anyone holds that they don’t need the new covenant of redemption by the blood of the Lamb to be justified before GOD then the word of Christ is not in them, because YEHOSHUA HAMASHIACH has proclaimed that every man that is a descendant of Adam needs to be born again through the redemption of His blood because they have been separated by sin to the life that is in GOD.
When this is the understanding, there is no conflict with what John later states in chapter 3 verse 9.
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.
Here is the same verse from the Berean Standard Bible
9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
John is saying that those born of the will of GOD by the rebirth of the Son of GOD have been empowered with His divine nature and live to please the Father even as He did. Therefore, as a born again child of GOD he no longer practices or continues in sin once he has been convicted of it by the Holy Spirit, the seed of GOD, the Spirit of truth. This echoes what Paul stated in Romans 8:14:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
The Holy Spirit has come to lead and guide us into all truth, into sanctification and holiness, from glory to glory.
If we are not clear about these truths in our teaching, we can mislead people into believing that we are still captives to the bondage of sin, which is to say, even though we won’t to please GOD we can’t because the seed of the wicked one through Adam is more powerful than the seed of the Holy one through Christ. If we walk after the Spirit and continue taking up the cross in mortification or putting to death of the old man, we will one day be fully purged and that is the promise of GOD. He promised that He would cleanse us of all unrighteousness, not just cover it up. That should be the earnest expectation of all saints because it is the promise of the gospel of Christ. He who the son makes free is free indeed!
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