Deceiving Ourselves: Sin

 If we say that 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 that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

-First John 1:8-10 (King James Version)

Today and tomorrow, I'd like to do a mini series on the topic of "Deceiving Ourselves." There are ways in which we deceive ourselves into believing false things, thus causing our faith to be weak.

John writes in First John 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." One way we deceive ourselves is thinking that we have not sinned. Sin is what separates us from God, and our sin is why Jesus came. It's only through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that our sin can be atoned for. So, to say we have no sin is a deceptive lie from satan. In fact, we read in verse 10, "If we say that we have not sinned; we make him a liar and his word is not in us." If we claim we have no sin, we are calling God a liar, we are calling Jesus a liar. How can we do such a thing? Scripture clearly tells us, in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The fact is that we are all sinners. It doesn't matter how rich or how poor, or what our social status is. We are all sinners, and we all need a Savior.

John writes in verse 9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." What a great promise of Scripture. If we confess our sins, God will forgive us, and He will cleanse us from all our sin. Are you making God out to be a liar today? What sin must you confess? Think About It.