If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

                                                                                                                     1 John 1:8-10 

Today’s passage is sometimes used as a template for unbelievers to respond to God. While it is possible to apply these truths to the unbelieving world, given the context of John’s letter, I believe that these instructions are for the church. And the theme of this passage: admitting that we are sinful people. Sandwiched between two negative approaches to our issue with sin is a magnificent promise from God, but first, let’s take a look at the two statements addressing one’s refusal to admit his/her sin.

On any given day, at any given location on the earth, at any given venue are believers who come together to worship, pray, teach, learn, encourage one another, and listen to the Word of God proclaimed. When the church gathers together, we congregate as a small unit of a larger context, the universal church (all believers everywhere). In all of these gatherings are sinful people who (if they are born again) have been saved and forgiven, having been redeemed by faith in the finished work of Jesus.

As believers, we can rise above the trappings of the world because of the Spirit of God residing within us. But this spiritual transformation does not wipe out the reality that we all still live in the flesh. Just as with the rest of the world, born again believers will go through seasons of victory and failure, times of rejoicing and times of grief. But through all of this is the reminder that our victory and our entrance into God’s eternal kingdom are based on the work that Christ has secured on our behalf, not our own performance.

Thus, we have the reality that, after conversion, believers will still find themselves dealing with the sin nature. While some might profess that they have been delivered from all sin, I believe that there is no honest person in the church who can claim sinless perfection. That distinction has been reserved for Jesus Himself. Therefore, we have John’s instructions to us regarding sin.

“If we say that we have no sin,” or declare, “that we have not sinned,” four things become apparent: (1) we are deceiving ourselves, (2) the truth is not in us, (3) we make God out to be a liar, and (4) the Word of God is not in us. That is a pretty remarkable list of negatives that come simply from declaring that we are without sin.

While we all have to speak for ourselves regarding our own sin, I believe it would be a profitable idea for us to remember to not expect more from others around us than they are capable of giving. From the man in the pulpit, to the person on the back row of the church, to the man sitting outside the church, too ashamed to enter, and everyone in between, we are all sinners and equally in need of a Savior. Too often, we see people’s faith damaged or destroyed as they see someone that they have admired (perhaps a pastor, Bible study teacher, or church leader) fall into some sort of sin. While the world will often grab at these opportunities to attack the authenticity of the church, as believers, we should assess these situations entirely differently. Acknowledging that church leaders are sinners too, that we are all susceptible to failure, keeping our fallen nature and that of others in mind, we can guard against two things.

First, our faith will not become damaged or destroyed. When we place our faith in the right Person, that of Jesus alone, we are insulating ourselves from disappointment and discouragement at the behavior and actions of others. Secondly, by taking this approach, the church can guard against attacks from the world. How? By accurately identifying ourselves as redeemed sinners and not people who have reached the pinnacle of perfection, we are able to endure failure without destroying the ministry of the church. In addition to that, we make ourselves more approachable and relatable to the unbelieving world when we are honest about our failures and struggles. Remember, as believers, we are ministers of a new covenant, not purveyors of perfection.

So admitting our own sinfulness is imperative if the church is going to reach the lost world, but understanding our position in Christ and relying on His promises is of equal importance. “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is the promise made to all believers as we honestly deal with God regarding our sin.

A simple yet practical definition for the word “confessing” is “to agree with God.” As believers, we have the amazing privilege of talking to God about every aspect of our lives. As we recognize thoughts, words, and deeds that are not in line with His purpose for our lives, we can confess those things to Him, effectively agreeing with Him about those things. Then we can approach them in the confidence, strength, and victory that God’s forgiveness brings.

There are two characteristics of God described in this promise. As we confess our sin, He (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us. The word “faithful” needs no explanation. The faithfulness of God toward us is not based on our faithfulness to Him. It is based on the new covenant that He has established with all believers on the basis of Jesus’ obedience on the cross (Romans 5:18).

In order to understand this, we must consider the infinite, perfect, unlimited forgiveness of God. Often, we might find ourselves living by the “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me” standard. This mentality is one of self-preservation. It is the idea that someone might get one over on us once, but never again. Similarly, we might adopt a “three strikes and you’re out” philosophy. This is an offer of forgiveness but it is extremely limited. Peter seemed to believe that suggesting an offer of forgiving seven times would far exceed the understood limitations regarding forgiveness, and in light of these two philosophies, it certainly would (Matthew 18). But this call for justice toward a multiple offender doesn’t demonstrate our sense of justice rather our sense of sinfulness. And that takes us to the second characteristics of God mentioned in our passage.

As we confess our sin, God is faithful and righteous (just) to forgive us. This characteristic often seems to get lost in the translation of this passage. To say that God is righteous to forgive us is to say that, by forgiving us, God is performing a right act. This word is often translated “just” meaning that God is exercising justice by forgiving us our sin. Someone might argue that God doesn’t have to forgive, bringing home this point all the more. In His righteousness and justice, God chooses to forgive us in the same manner that He has instructed us to forgive others (Matthew 18). When we understand Jesus’ instruction to forgive, “seventy times seven”, we know that he is commanding us to forgive in an unlimited way. This is difficult for us to comprehend. If we understood the chasm that separates a holy and perfect God from that of fallen mankind, we would begin to realize that the forgiveness of God is unlimited and this by His grace.

I believe that the church would do well to continually present itself as we truly are, sinners saved by grace through faith in Jesus and those who, while pursuing lives that are honoring to God, often fall short. Our adequacy is in Christ and not in ourselves (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). We are ministers of a new covenant, one that delivers reconciliation between God and mankind on the basis of faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Let’s be an honest, authentic, and transparent people and then watch God take our genuineness and bring others to the same salvation in which we enjoy!