I would like clarification on two verses in I John...
1 John 1:8; 3:6
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Do we ‘sinneth not?’ …or do we ‘deceive ourselves?’
The context of First John is that of a Jewish-circumcision Apostle (John) speaking to the people of Israel.
Dispensationally, the doctrine of 1 John fits the future tribulation period when the nation of Israel will suffer under the Anti-Christ.
John, as any good Jew would, not only acknowledges his own sin as a man, but that of his entire nation (specifically of breaking God's commandments given to them by Moses). John knows that any Jew that claims that he has no sin in him (self-righteousness) is making God a liar because God says that all have sinned and come short of His glory.
‘God's glory in Christ’ is the issue! He is light and not darkness. John is letting Israel know that they need the blood of the Lord Jesus to cleanse them from all their sin of failing under the Law. There will be Jews in the future, who will deceive themselves into actually claiming to have no sin, and thus reject the blood of Christ. So John is calling for them "to confess" that they are sinners, just like God said and trust Christ shed blood for total payment. It is only after that that God can forgive them based on the blood of Christ.
Here is the context of 1 John 1:5-10
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 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.
Look at this at work in another godly Jew in scripture Daniel, and how he prayed not only about his own sin, but that of his nation...
Daniel 9:20
And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;
So you see that, again, the verse of 1 John 1:8 has to do with the nation of Israel in the future tribulation period and trusting Christ in order to enter into that earthly kingdom.
Now onto chapter 3, verse 8. Again the context and setting is in regard to the future tribulation period and John is speaking to Jews!
1 John 3: 4-6
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Here we see that those that broke the Law have sinned. But that God sent Christ to them to take away their sin. Those Jews that will trust the sinless One will then abide in Him. What is the proof that they are abiding in Him? They will keep His commandments!
John 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
What's His commandment? As always, we look to scripture…
John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Therefore, this is the proof of the Jew who really trust Christ in that day—they will love their brothers like Christ loved them!
Remember, John already recorded all this in the book of John and is simply reminding them of this in 1 John. Look what he says…
1 John 3:11
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Christ told them that the way that they will know that they abide in Him is when they love one another, that is, take care of the needs of their Jewish brethren.
Note: “Taking care of the needs” is the same good works that James commands the Jew to observe in his book.
James 2:15-18
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
So you see, for Israel, their faith in Christ must be combined by works of charity towards their brother Jew in order to be accepted by God and enter into the kingdom. That is vastly different that how God deals with us gentiles under grace!
Hopefully this
helps...Maranatha!
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Response:
Okay, pastor Ron, let me see if I can summarize what I understand you to are saying...
1 John 1:8-10 is their state before receiving Christ while 3:9 is after?
What I found a while back that I thought was cool was in Ezekiel 11:20, 36:27 and 44:24, where God talks about giving the Jews the ability to keep His commandments. It ties in with what you said: "Here we see that those that broke the Law have sinned. But that God sent Christ to them to take away their sin. Those Jews that will trust the sinless One will then ABIDE in Him. What is the PROOF that they are abiding in Him? They will keep His commandments!"
What I find really awesome about this is that they do it not by their own power but by the power of God.
Yes, you got it!
...Maranatha!
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