Daily Bible Study—1 John 1:10

If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:10, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Conditional

C1 We claim

C2 That we have not sinned

B2 Main clause

C1 We make

C2 Two things

D1 First

E1 Him

E2 A liar

D2 Second

E1 His word

E2 Is not in us

A2 Notes

B1 Claim--This is say. It is not truth, so the translator used the word claim.

B2 Sin here is a verb.

B3 The claim is that we have not sinned. This is the attitude of everyone sometime. It is to plead not guilty.

C1 Not guilty because we think that we are good.

C2 Not guilty because we don't want to be punished.

B4 Main clause shows serious errors.

C1 Calling God a liar.

D1 "He who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4, EMTV)

D2 "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you desire to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar, and the father of lies." (John 8:44, EMTV)

C2 The Scripture verses are not in us.

C3 We have the wrong interpretation.

C4 We have not applied it to our lives.

B5 The result is that we have sinned and sin again by our false claim.

B6 A quote from the Bridgeway Bible Commentary on this verse:

"John is not saying all this so that people might think that sinning is normal behaviour for Christians, as if it does not matter if they sin. On the contrary he wants them not to sin. But it is inevitable that they will sin sometimes, and he wants them to be assured that when that happens, cleansing is available because of the atoning blood of Christ. On the basis of his death, Christ can ask the Father to forgive the sinner (1 John 2:1-2)."

A3 Questions

B1 If we want fellowship with God and the congregation, what must we do?

B2 Have you ever said that you have not sinned? How did this affect you?

B3 Why would someone claim such a thing?

B4 Was is preaching against sin unpopular?

B5 What is the significance of not having His truth in us?

B6 How do we know what sin is and if we have sinned?