Those in deception
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1:8)
A second group of false professors claimed to
have no sin. This position was prouder than the stance of those in the first category who ignored their sin (cf. Jer. 17:9). Any so-called Christians who claim to have reached a higher spiritual plane, where sin no longer exists in their lives, completely misunderstand their condition and the Spirit’s work of progressive sanctification.
Again, any who ignore the existence of sin give clear evidence that
the truth is not in them. The Bible plainly teaches the principle of human depravity. In Romans 3:10–23 Paul wrote:
“There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (cf. Gen. 8:21; 2 Chron. 6:36; Ps. 51:5; Jer. 13:23; Rom. 8:7–8; 1 Cor. 2:14; Titus 3:3)
Jesus Christ was the only human being who could ever claim to be without sin (Heb. 4:15). All who make such an outlandish claim are only fooling themselves. It is not until believers are glorified in heaven that their sanctification process will be complete (Rom. 8:19, 23), and then they will be without sin.
Those who defame god
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. (1:10)
The list of those who deny the certainty of sin culminates with a third group, those who not only claim not to sin now, but who
say that they
have never
sinned. By making that ridiculous assertion they blasphemously
make God a
liar (cf. Titus 1:2; 1 John 5:10–11) in two ways. First, they explicitly deny His teaching that all have sinned (see above), and second, they implicitly deny the need for a Savior (cf. Isa. 53:10–11; Zech. 9:9; Matt. 1:21; Luke 2:11; 19:10; Acts 5:31; 13:38–39; Rom. 6:23; 1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 5:9). After all, why would they need a Substitute to take their punishment for something they claim to have never committed?
All three categories of false claimants to fellowship with God fail John’s second doctrinal test by denying sin’s certainty. Thus they prove that
His word [truth]
is not in them. Anyone, even a professed believer seeking to cover up his or her sin, is in the depths of spiritual darkness and deception, and blasphemes God. Conversely, when those truly in the fellowship fall into sin, they do not deny sin’s presence or their propensity toward it (Rom. 7:14–25; 1 Tim. 1:12–15; cf. Pss. 32:5; 51:1, 3; Prov. 28:13). Instead, they openly and honestly confess their sins before the Lord and repent of them.
Scripture corroborates the validity and necessity of John’s first two doctrinal tests of salvation—belief in God and belief in the certainty of sin. Concerning essential faith, the author of Hebrews declares,
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.… And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (11:1, 6; cf. John 6:47; 20:31; Rom. 1:17; 3:21–22, 28; 1 John 5:1)
Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector) makes clear that one cannot be justified apart from an honest confession of his or her sinfulness:
But the tax collector [in contrast to the self-righteous Pharisee], standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:13–14; cf. Prov. 26:12; 1 Cor. 6:9–10; Gal. 5:19–21; Eph. 5:5)
[1]
[1] John MacArthur,
1, 2, 3 John, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2007), 29–31.
