Free From Sin
One of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted texts in the bible is 1 John 1:8. Why do I say that? Because it is used by ministers around the world to deny that we can have freedom from sin.
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
In 1 John 1:8 we read that “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” In comparison to the verse we just read from Romans, some might believe we have a contradiction. And not many are ready to harmonize these verses. Most are quick to say I believe 1 John 1:8 and never confess that freedom they were called to, then they make their confession that “we are all sinners, I still sin, and I’m going to keep sinning because this is who “I am”.
We also read in the book of John:
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
The word “commit” is important to understand. It means to make a commitment. It means to consciously do something you know to be wrong. And the truth of the word is that if Christ the “seed” is in you, you “cannot sin”. That is you will not willfully transgress or consciously disobey your Father in heaven.
Would Christ ever consciously disobey His Father? If Christ is in you, will you ever consciously disobey your Father? No, you have to first kick Christ out of the house as master, and take the reins in order to do what you know to be wrong.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
In order to have this victory however, we need to believe these words to be true. We can’t work at it while we still believe we are sinners. Then we are set up to fail right from the very get go, because we have denied the word of God to have power to do what it says. “According to your faith be it unto you.” (Matt 9:29)
So the reason I am bringing up 1 John 1:8 in this study is to clear up the misunderstanding. Because this verse is one of the most widely misunderstood passages in scripture, and because of the misunderstanding, many deny that they can have victory. I know many will respond to this article sharing the fact that they are sinners, and expressing that they don’t have victory, and that is because this is their experience, this is their faith. But I pray that out of this some will realize that this doesn’t have to be your experience anymore. That you can be free, and that you don’t have to hold onto a verse just because that is your experience in the past.
We don’t have to identify with sin anymore. We can have victory over all conscious sin.
One thing I would like to clarify before continuing. God gives us victory over conscious sin. Therefore we will do what is right in His sight. God’s children have many things to learn, and therefore as they grow, they come to new light, they find better ways, they learn more about God’s love for them, and so character flaws, and ignorance and unknown sin are still had.
1John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
Sin NOT
1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Did John tell us to “sin not” and then laugh while we try to do something impossible? This is a promise to the born again believer. “whosoever is born of God sinneth not” (1 John 5:18) But if any man doesn’t believe in the power of the word, we do have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. If any man hasn’t been born of God, we do have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous. If any man sin, and haven’t accepted yet that “whosoever is born of God sinneth not”, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous.
If we couldn’t “go, and sin no more” Jesus would not have said it. (John 8:11) If we couldn’t “sin not” John would not have said it. (1 John 2:1, 3:6, 5:18)
Joh_5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Joh_8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
He didn’t just say these things and then laugh at us while we “try our best”. These are precious promises. (2 Pet 1:4) These words have the power to do what they say if we will believe. But the devil tries to twist the word of God on us. God’s promises are true, His word is true, He is a Father who makes promises and cannot lie. The word has the creative power to do what it says. Just as the worlds were created by the word of God, so to may you be.
Cleansed from all Sin
We are told by John that “All unrighteousness is sin:” (1 John 5:17) We are also told in 1 John 1:9 that “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) Therefore in conclusion he is willing that “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
So therefore after the blood has cleansed me from all sin, and all unrighteousness I am left with no sin? This sounds strange, because in verse 8 we read the following:
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But wait…. In verse 7 and 9, the surrounding verses I was told that I was cleansed from all sin. So that means I am left with “no sin”.
Wow, it’s easy to take a verse like 1 John 1:8 out of context isn’t it? And do you know why people do it? Because they haven’t experienced being cleansed of all sin yet. Verse 8 is speaking to a person who has yet to accept the cleansing blood and be cleansed of “all sin”.
If while I have yet to accept the blood to cleanse me from “all sin”(v7) I say I have “no sin”(v8), then I deceive myself and the truth is not in me. Does that make sense?
Share your comments below. I pray you can claim the cleansing blood of Christ to cleanse you from all sin so that you can be free from all sin, cleansed of all unrighteousness, and accepting that since you’ve given your sin to Jesus, you now have “no sin”.
“Go and sin no more” and if any have not accepted “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) We have an advocate with God, Jesus Christ, the righteous, who hath cleansed our filthy rags, and given us new white robes of righteousness.
