John is warning believers that some had infiltrated the Church with the false doctrine of Gnosticism. He addresses both genuine Christians and Gnostics in the same letter. The Gnostics claimed that a truly enlightened man would have a superior spiritual knowledge. In fact, the word "gnosis" means "to know." They taught an enlightened man would realize all matter is evil and man is spirit and pure because what is spirit is not matter. They argued that Jesus was a phantom and did not die on the cross since you cannot kill a spirit. John responds with "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, the Word of life." John has made it clear that Jesus was no phantom spirit. He was real, and he was flesh, and he died on that cross for our sins.
John then transitions into dealing with the Gnostic doctrine of sin that claimed sin could not permeate spirit and so they could sin with impunity since sin could not taint their spirit. One of their favorite illustrations was an image of a ring of pure gold that was embedded in a pile of dung. They pointed out that the ring, although surrounded by dung, still remains pure. The dung does not permeate the ring in any way whatsoever. Thus, they argued sin cannot defile the spirit. The Gnostics saw themselves as enlightened and as possessing a superior higher knowledge, and John was disdained by this group. Many claimed they knew God, abided in Christ, and were in the light.
In verse six, John exposes the false doctrine of the Gnostic infiltrators. They claimed the truth was they could walk in darkness and continue to fellowship with God. John counters the Gnostic heresy in verse seven by stating the true Christian doctrine. He says that only if they walk in the light as God is in the light. Then and only then can the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse them from all sin. In verse eight, John claims that they are deceived in thinking they had no sin for the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse away. John then states the remedy to their error by telling them God will forgive if they confess their sins. He also continues on to talk about the removal of sin in their lives by asserting that along with this forgiveness, God will cleanse them from ALL unrighteousness.
Verse ten states that if we do not feel that we have sins to be cleansed of, because we do not believe we ever sinned, then we would be calling God a liar. The Apostle John is fighting against the error of Gnosticism and not legalism. Nothing within this context would give us the warrant to believe John's words in verses eight and ten are to Christians. Scripture never contradicts Scripture. This is the basic law of hermeneutics. This principle must be even more so if we compare the work of one writer. The most solid proof that John is not saying that Christians sin is contained within this very letter. In verse 7 John tells us that Christians are cleansed from all sin. If ALL SIN is cleansed, how can there be anything left? In Chapter 2:1 he states the purpose of his letter "My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not."
This is plain on its own, but the Greek says "that you may not have a sin once." In chapter 3:8-9 we are told plainly that "he who sins is of the devil" and "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." To make verse 1:8 say that John admitted sin in Christians and himself while he claimed to be walking in the light is to make him the most self-contradictory writer to be found in all of secular and sacred writing! How can one say we must sin because we are saved, but then we are not saved if we do violate the commandments of Christ (2:4). That we can be of the devil and of the Lord at the same time. "If we say we have no sin" is referring to an unregenerate person who declares they have no sin to be forgiven and therefore no guilt to wash away. It was the Gnostic belief that they had no sin.
John then transitions into dealing with the Gnostic doctrine of sin that claimed sin could not permeate spirit and so they could sin with impunity since sin could not taint their spirit. One of their favorite illustrations was an image of a ring of pure gold that was embedded in a pile of dung. They pointed out that the ring, although surrounded by dung, still remains pure. The dung does not permeate the ring in any way whatsoever. Thus, they argued sin cannot defile the spirit. The Gnostics saw themselves as enlightened and as possessing a superior higher knowledge, and John was disdained by this group. Many claimed they knew God, abided in Christ, and were in the light.
In verse six, John exposes the false doctrine of the Gnostic infiltrators. They claimed the truth was they could walk in darkness and continue to fellowship with God. John counters the Gnostic heresy in verse seven by stating the true Christian doctrine. He says that only if they walk in the light as God is in the light. Then and only then can the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse them from all sin. In verse eight, John claims that they are deceived in thinking they had no sin for the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse away. John then states the remedy to their error by telling them God will forgive if they confess their sins. He also continues on to talk about the removal of sin in their lives by asserting that along with this forgiveness, God will cleanse them from ALL unrighteousness.
Verse ten states that if we do not feel that we have sins to be cleansed of, because we do not believe we ever sinned, then we would be calling God a liar. The Apostle John is fighting against the error of Gnosticism and not legalism. Nothing within this context would give us the warrant to believe John's words in verses eight and ten are to Christians. Scripture never contradicts Scripture. This is the basic law of hermeneutics. This principle must be even more so if we compare the work of one writer. The most solid proof that John is not saying that Christians sin is contained within this very letter. In verse 7 John tells us that Christians are cleansed from all sin. If ALL SIN is cleansed, how can there be anything left? In Chapter 2:1 he states the purpose of his letter "My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not."
This is plain on its own, but the Greek says "that you may not have a sin once." In chapter 3:8-9 we are told plainly that "he who sins is of the devil" and "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." To make verse 1:8 say that John admitted sin in Christians and himself while he claimed to be walking in the light is to make him the most self-contradictory writer to be found in all of secular and sacred writing! How can one say we must sin because we are saved, but then we are not saved if we do violate the commandments of Christ (2:4). That we can be of the devil and of the Lord at the same time. "If we say we have no sin" is referring to an unregenerate person who declares they have no sin to be forgiven and therefore no guilt to wash away. It was the Gnostic belief that they had no sin.