Scripture Sandwich
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ESV 1 John 1:8-10
Ever notice how easy it is to forget things? Tell the truth, have you ever walked into a room and wondered what you went in there for? I thought so. If you can’t relate to that, how about this; you tell your child no to a request (in no uncertain terms mind you) only to have them tugging at your leg with the same request a few minutes later.
We all need little reminders along don’t we? In the book of 1 John, John was reminding his flock of some basic Christian truths that he and the other Apostles had already shared with them.
Our passage today is what I like to call a scripture sandwich; which is a real, distinct, meaty verse sandwiched in between two related verses.
In verse eight, John points out that regardless of how pious, righteous and holy that his readers think they are living; they are kidding themselves if they think they have eradicated sin in their lives. Of course sinless perfection is something all Christians should strive for, but we won’t be completely victorious until we are removed from the very presence of sin; at home in heaven.
John uses even stronger language in verse ten. There he warns them that if we claim to have never sinned, then they are going way beyond kidding ourselves. He says that if we make this claim, we are in essence making God out to be a liar. Paul confirmed this in his letter to the Romans when he said “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But wedged in between these two related verses lies the remarkable verse nine which says that if “we confess our sins…he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I confess to having difficulty wrapping my arms around this verse. Think about it for a minute. Here’s a promise, from God Himself, to cleanse us of all unrighteousness if we will recognize sin for what it is and confess it to him; wow.
Christians, be honest this week. Don’t deceive yourself by claiming you are living in sinless perfection and don’t make God out to be a liar by denying that you’ve ever sinned. Either answer should give you reason to doubt that the truth is in you. Instead, in absolute humility, confess your sins to the Redeemer and He will be faithful to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.
-Ken Askew
Ever notice how easy it is to forget things? Tell the truth, have you ever walked into a room and wondered what you went in there for? I thought so. If you can’t relate to that, how about this; you tell your child no to a request (in no uncertain terms mind you) only to have them tugging at your leg with the same request a few minutes later.
We all need little reminders along don’t we? In the book of 1 John, John was reminding his flock of some basic Christian truths that he and the other Apostles had already shared with them.
Our passage today is what I like to call a scripture sandwich; which is a real, distinct, meaty verse sandwiched in between two related verses.
In verse eight, John points out that regardless of how pious, righteous and holy that his readers think they are living; they are kidding themselves if they think they have eradicated sin in their lives. Of course sinless perfection is something all Christians should strive for, but we won’t be completely victorious until we are removed from the very presence of sin; at home in heaven.
John uses even stronger language in verse ten. There he warns them that if we claim to have never sinned, then they are going way beyond kidding ourselves. He says that if we make this claim, we are in essence making God out to be a liar. Paul confirmed this in his letter to the Romans when he said “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But wedged in between these two related verses lies the remarkable verse nine which says that if “we confess our sins…he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I confess to having difficulty wrapping my arms around this verse. Think about it for a minute. Here’s a promise, from God Himself, to cleanse us of all unrighteousness if we will recognize sin for what it is and confess it to him; wow.
Christians, be honest this week. Don’t deceive yourself by claiming you are living in sinless perfection and don’t make God out to be a liar by denying that you’ve ever sinned. Either answer should give you reason to doubt that the truth is in you. Instead, in absolute humility, confess your sins to the Redeemer and He will be faithful to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.
-Ken Askew
Labels: 1 John 1:8-10, John, sin
posted by TBC at
4:31 AM
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