Verses 1:6-2:2 are a discussion on how we as believers see ourselves. Either we are honest about our relationship to sin, and deal with it correctly. Or we are not honest, having a much too positive view of ourselves (see the movie 'Talented Mr. Ripley' for this side of it) and live a life of hypocrisy.
There is a pattern to these verses –"If we say” – "but"…display (i.e., live out) problems, -
We can see that "If we say…” is used three times. The “but” is understood in two of the verses.
John has setup a logical pattern in the sentences and verses (remember: verse numbers were added by monks or priests many centuries later.)
Vss 6, 8, and 10 are coupled together with vss 7, 9, and 2:1.
Vss 6, 8, and 10 – lists the problem…
Vss 7,9, and 2:1,2 are antidotes.
An example of the pattern is:
Vs. 6: beginning of “If’ statement
Vs. 7: completion of the “then” statement
The following is sort of an outline of the verses, a summary:
If we say “no sin” – then we are self-deluded, untruthful.
or, if we Say “have not sinned” = we are calling God is a liar, His word is not in us.
These words and phrases are packed with imagery and meaning:
'Lie' = do not practice truth, not just a one-time Oops
'Deceived' (self-deception) = without truth, there is truth, but you do not have it in you
'Liar' = without God’s word.
'Cleansed' = by Christ’s blood
'Confession' = leads to cleansing
'Advocate' is “propitiation for our sins”
However,
IF we Walk in light (note: He is light) - our lives match our claims.
Then: fellowship
And: cleansed by His blood, i.e., Cleansed from SIN
Conclusion: If Truth is not in us, that is, not practiced, then the word is not in us.
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Vs. 1:6 - "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;" - (This the first of three "If...Then" statements.)
If we say we have fellowship – i.e., to claim intimacy with Jesus, the Lord. I claim to share a life. I claim that my life is an embodiment of Christ living in me. (Gal. 2:20 – no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me). YET… walk in darkness.
God is light, with no darkness at all. How can I be sharing my life (which is darkness, because I am practicing it) and be one with Jesus who is Light? It cannot happen. Therefore, if I claim to be so, I am lying. God cannot lie "God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Num 23:19). It is not God who is mistaken.
| Fellowship vs. darkness Fellowship vs. lying, or untruthfulness Not accidental straying; but is NOT practicing the Life |
vs. 1:7 - "but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." - This is the last half of the first "if...then" statement. Part of this is: actions are proof of fellowship with Jesus. You can say you are a Christian, but if you don’t live it, you are either fooling yourself, or are an out-and-out liar. See the letter by James, especially chapter 2. If I say I know Christ (personally, not just intellectually) then I will live it out. I will have fellowship, shared experience, with other Christians.
Wait, there’s more: we are cleansed from sin. Note: first time sin is mentioned in this letter. Darkness, deception, lying – but not sin. Sin is the cause of darkness in us. If we are in fellowship with Jesus, we are clean – no deception, no lying, no darkness.
vs. 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. - (Second of three “if statements” - first vss 6 &7, third: vss. 10, 2:1,2). Continuation of sin subject. In verse 7, we are cleansed from sin. If I claim that I am not in a condition of sin (i.e., have no sin) – this is not past tense, it is 'now'. OK - We have been cleansed from sin by Christ’s blood, but if we try to claim there is no sin in us, then we have deceived ourselves. Obviously, as long as we live here on earth, we have the chance to sin (not only the opportunity, but we will do it). Because I am cleansed does not mean that I am sinless – forever and ever. John is writing to believers. Don’t be naïve, don’t be uninformed – you will sin, it is part of you. Don’t be disobedient, don’t be stupid – lying about your condition. The truth is I am a sinner, saved by Jesus’ sacrifice.
If we say…“No sin” – we are deceiving selves, there is no truth in us. (this seems to be in the present tense). "Have not sinned" – this says we are implying no missing the mark, ever – appears to be past tense – to include all past action
| "Have no sin" – claiming none at all - We
deceive ourselves
|
vs. 1:9 – "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - The action verse of this pair (vss. 8 & 9). Verse 8 is the proclamation verse, verse 9 is the action verse. In vs. 8, we deceive ourselves because we do not admit, acknowledge that we are sinful. So, what to do if I understand that sin is in me, and it separates me from God?
The proof that I am God’s is that I get the sin taken care of. Note: it is not me that handles it. By agreeing with God, He steps up to solve the problem. This is a two-fold solution – forgiveness and cleansing. 'Confess' is not just agreement. Agreement is, "Yes, Lord, you are correct, that was a sin", but it does not stop there. 'Confess' also includes repentance - regret, and choosing to not do it again.
- The first, forgiveness, removes the penalty of sin.
- The second, cleansing, provides a new start.
It is kind of like getting an old car repaired. (forgiveness – the old problem is fixed), and getting a new engine and drive train (cleansed – no old parts to break right away). – O.K., maybe this is not a great analogy. Forgiveness treats us as if the sin was not there. Cleansing removes the guilt. We are fresh and clean - not just a new paint job.
“He is faithful and righteousness” – This is a response to our confessing. Note: if we confess, He will forgive and cleanse. This sounds like a “contract”. Throughout the O.T. and N.T. God has promised He will forgive if we confess. “Faithful” – always there for us. “Righteous” – will act rightly, it is His nature to do as He said He will do.
| Action - Confess! |
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Vss 1:10-2:3 – is one paragraph, another 'If we say that' statement
vs. 10 – "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us" - There are two If-Then statements in this one verse
First we “make God a liar”, second, God’s Word is not in us. God has said we are sinners (we sin because we are sinners, not vice versa). So if we disagree with Him, and claim we have not sinned. Either God is telling the truth or we are not telling the truth. If we insist we are correct, then God must be wrong – He’s lied to us.
| (1) If we say…then we make ... (2) If we say then His word is not... |
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There is a downward spiral, a spiritual descent of refusing to acknowledge our sin. I don’t know if this is a stretch or not – here goes:
–
Vs.6 – We are in darkness, we lie, do not practice truth. To,
Vs. 8 – we deceive ourselves, do not have truth. To,
vs.10 – God is a liar, and we do not have His word.
There is a three step progression:
One – we are in darkness, (uniformed);
Two – we fool ourselves (actively involved in our deception);
Three – we lash out at God.
Another view of the three step progression:
One - we do not practice the truth, even though we know it;
Two – the truth is not in us, don’t know it;
Three – His word is not in us. We don’t live it, we don’t have it, We don’t have His revelation.
Also it goes from
One - claiming fellowship (6), to
Two - claiming sinless condition (present tense) (8), to
Three - claiming to have never sinned (all of our lives) – escalating claims of holiness.
The opposites:
(vs.3) - we know when we keep the commandments.
(vs.5) – keeps the word – know we are in;
(vs.6) – Abiding means walking as he walked.
The Apostle Paul says it SO MUCH better than I. See Romans, chapter One...
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in [fn]their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
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