“If we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves…”

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ~1 John 1:8 KJV

Wrong Interpretation:

Many Christians use this scripture to justify that we could “never be perfect” because this scripture says that we deceive ourselves if we say that we have no sin. Furthermore, if we dare claim that we have no sin, we are being prideful, which is a sin.

Right Interpretation:

John is not saying that “we should never confess that we are sinless.” John is talking about certain people who sin, but do not repent. We see this a lot among the church body.

Here are the typical examples:

• The unrepentant adulterer on sin being incurable in Christianity: “We all fall short.”
• Certain others on never being perfect in Christianity: “God, I’ll never be perfect, your grace is enough for me.”
• Donald Trump on forgiveness: “If I do something wrong, I try to make it right.  I don’t bring God into that picture.”

Plus, some of these people believe that all their sin was forever cleansed at baptism so there is no need for more repentance and some believe that they have always been good.

John’s next statement confirms this meaning by calling for a confession of sins.

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 KJV

Notice that confession leads to a cleansing from all unrighteousness. Therefore, unrepentant people, or people who claim to be an imperfect Christian, or people who say that they were cleansed at baptism and will “never be perfect” because “Christ has done it all” are misleading people about the doctrine of Christ. This is a popular, false doctrine.

I can tell you for a fact that if God reveals a sin to me and I repent of that sin, Jesus Christ washes me clean of that sin to make me sinless. This is what He does for all born again Christians to make them without spot and blameless. Any professing Christian who does not confess and turn away from his or her obvious sins, is unclean and without truth.  Any person who thinks that they are too good to have to repent, does not understand the context of the scripture that everyone has fallen short  and needs Christ as their redeemer who sets them free.  Read more about these facts in the article entitled: How John Squashed the Imperfect Christian