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• Some commentaries I read, usually Baptist, protestants, see verse 1 John 1:8 as speaking about someone whom denies ever sinning in ones life.
• The other interpretation sadly often heard is if someone was to say while their walking as a Christian, I have no sin (has stopped from any and all sinning), he or she is deceived.
  

I John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.19 They went out from us (once suppose Christians), but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 20   But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no "lie" is of the "truth" 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son. 23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

    John in these previous verses is revealing his primary reason he written,  

    John begins his letter, with his and a few others AUTHORITY of the TRUTH from  knowing Jesus, from the BEGINNING being with Jesus. To prove these people who went out from them, are liars, sinners, deceiving themselves and others, making Jesus out to be a liar, seducing them.

John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

    The word handled or touched (in some translations) used by John, in it’s Greek form, is defined as manipulating, such as with the hands in a particular way to remove kernels, or manipulate an instrument in a particular way the sound has meaning so the soldiers will know when to battle, or manipulating the handle of a shovel. John is saying he and a few others, has authority of the turth, from being there in the beginning with Jesus, hearing, eye witnessing, handled (manipulated as an instrument, competent, written), of the Word of Life (spiritual actions and commands of Jesus).

John 1:2 For the life was manifested (displayed in man spiritual actions and commands in the son of God, Jesus Christ) and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life. Which was with the Father, and was manifested (displayed in man spiritual actions and commands in the son of God, Jesus Christ) unto us;

John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full

John 1:5 This then is the message (word of life, commands of Jesus), which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light (truth), and in him is no darkness (lie) at all.

    John warns these Christians who are being seduce, does a typical thing as Paul's way of warning, by spiritually placing himself in the frame of mind "spirit" Mental dispostion, as if walking in darkness (a lie), writing down the spirit (logic), walking through each step of their thought, logic as "if"  walking in darkness.
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    Remember I John 1:26 These things have I written unto you “ concering them that seduce you”

I John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness (a lie, not in the Word of life, displayed, spiritual actions and commands of Jesus.), we lie, and do not the truth:

John provides the contrast "BUT IF".

    After the contrast, John returns to the spirit, (logic, mental disposition) in verse 6, continuing where he left off, in verse 8, describing  the next step of logic. When claiming to have fellowship with Jesus and walking in darkness, not walking in the commands of Jesus Christ. This corresponds with the once Christians, who become seducers who left the church, not walking in the commands, particularly the darkness denying Jesus is the Christ. The next step in their walk in darkness, their logic they say, "we have no sin", their deceiving themselves.

I John 1:8 If we say that we (while in this condition, walking in darkness, a lie, not walking in the commands, such as denying Jesus is the Christ) have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

    I John 2:4 unites the spirit (logic, mental disposition), words of I John 6, I John 8 and clarifies further in 1 john 2:21, 22, 26 showing they work together in harmony to form a sequence of logic of particularly the once suppose Christian, that claim fellowship with Jesus, but then deny Jesus is the Christ, then saying has no sin, deceiving himself, is a liar and the truth is not in him, seducing the chrurch. Same as with a christian who walks in the darkness, hate towards his brother.                                                         

  
    John is not writing directly to us two thousand years later for us to clearing perceive his spirit (logic, mental disposition) at a glance, but to people who had a certain mindset (logic, certain mental disposition) already pertaining to once suppose Christians seducing them, that would perceive John's spirit (logic, intent) more easily within, revealing "These things have I written unto you “ concerning them that seduce you”.
    We are not aware in the beginning of the letter of once suppose Christians, who went out from them, walking in darkness (a lie), not walking in the commands, particularly denying Jesus is the Christ, seducing them, until we read the body of the letter. We must piece their frame of mind, spirit (logic) together, by studying the body of the letter, to perceive, understand John's spirit (logic, mental disposition), in the beginning of his letter.
    Conclusion, John is speaking of once suppose Christians, who went out from them, are walking in darkness, not walking in the commands, a lie, sinning,  (particularly the denying Jesus is the Christ) then still saying they know Jesus, still saying they are in fellowship with him and saying in this condition, they have no sin, their deceiving themselves, the truth is not in them, their making Jesus out to be a liar, seducing the church. Also anyone who claims to know Jesus and walks in darkness, sinning, if they then say they have no sin (as if  walking in darkness, is not sinning), they have deceived themselves too.

08/13/2003

    Question

• If  brothers, sisters, are now saying Jesus is not the Christ, is this a sin?
• YES
• If it’s a sin, has one deceived oneself, when thinking it's not a sin?
• YES

    If you were John the apostle how would you address this situation, if you could only write a letter to them?

    First you would show the authority in you (from being there with Jesus in the beginning, and having previously handled, competent, written a gospel (word of life), to write or speak with authority. You may try to address the issue in a way, so as not to point out directly people as of yet, so as not to cause hatred toward them (who are saying Jesus is not the Christ). So some may be saved from this sin or in any other situation of not walking in the commands of Jesus.
    You describe the logic step by step as "If" yourself and even them you are writing too, "if" were to walk in darkness (a lie, sin, not the commands of Jesus).

 I John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness (a lie, not the commands of Jesus), we lie, and do not the truth:

    You point out, the Christian, or once suppose Christian, if walking in darkness (a lie, sin, not the commands of Jesus) says within, or to the church, "I have no sin",  is deceiving oneself, the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

    You point out,  provide an avenue, escape , out  of  sins (darkness, lies).

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

    You point out, if we say  "I have not sinned" (continue in their deceptions),  we make Jesus out to be a liar, the word is not in them.

I John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

I John2:1 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:

• You conclude with, hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
• He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• You give honor to them for their continue walking in the word, commands heard from the beginning.

    You show him who purifith himself, who abideth (remain) in Christ, his light, truth, commands, sinneth not, compared to those once supose Christians, inferring who went out from them, walking in darkness (a lie, not in the commands, particularly inferring the denying  Jesus is the Christ), if they continue sinneth, hath not seen him, neither known him.
  You drive home the point them who are born of God doth not commit sin, cannot sin, (purifith himself). In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.


You then address,  believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.

    In this pristine Age of the church, in relation to the one salvation plan, in which the letter was written, the one true salvation plan was only taught, once someone believes that Jesus is the Christ and in his commands, he or she would immediately be directed by Jesus’ words and the apostles, submitting to confess his name, to repent (turn form sins) and be baptized (immersed) to have his or her sins forgiven (all in the same hour sometimes). 
    Today not a pristine age of the church, 2,000 years later, someone believes that Jesus is the Christ but dose not believe in his commands, their diverted, redirected (hoodwinked) to another humanly devised salvation plan (commands) of the Catholics (infant, pouring or immersion, neither authorized in the bible) or humanly devised salvation plan (commands) of the Protestants (sinners prayer, not authorized in the bible) walking in darkness.
    Being its in the pristine age of the church, this part of the letter is written for, knowing no one (when they confessed is directed to say the sinners prayers, or anyone was infant baptism pouring, immersing), only one salvation plan is being taught. One can conclude if a man or woman confesses but is diverted, redirected to walk in "darkness" a humanly devised salvation plan (commands) of the Protestants or Catholics,  these are not of God. The judgment by John in his letter I John, has application 2,000 years later in similar occasions when not walking in the commands of Jesus.
    You then drive the point home, them who believeth (keeping his commands) particularly Jesus is the Christ,  are begat of God.

You remind them  to save a brother in sin.


You conclude you letter that the son of God is come, we are in him that is true, God’s authority in his  SON JESUS CHRIST

In your second letter to them you again make a summary how they who say Jesus is not the Christ is a deceiver. 

    John did not write on the particular situation, "someone whom denies ever sinning in ones life" their deceiving themselves, referred to  I John 1 :8, by Baptist, protestants, in their many commentaries. Wrongly thinking John wrote on this particular case. Even so, the principle in I john can still be indirectly applied, to such a circumstance, being it would be another form of darkness one may be in, but not the particular darkness John was speaking about at the time.
    As for the other interpretation, often heard is "if someone was to say while their walking as a Christian, that they have no sin, (does not sin, over come sin), he or she is deceived."  The principle in I john 1:8 was not applied in this way by John, he later  wrote in 1 John 3:2-10, one who is born of God "purifies" him or herself where they as its written by John "sinneth not" "cannot sin".  

Philippians 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

    In the letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote concerning  the literal "resurrection of the dead", having to strive forward as the final goal, to be perfect ( 5048 complete meaning, accomplish, finish, bring to an end). Paul is saying he hasn't arrived yet at this perfect (5048 completeness, accomplish, finish).

Philippians 3:7   But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for * the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (God's persuasion): 10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Philippains 3:13   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

 In Philippians 3:15 we see people were considered perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age) this demonstrates christians can be perfect. With meekness humility they could say they have no sin. This is what we hope all true Christians will reach this state, perfect (5046 complete growth, of full age). Knowing by mercy, grace the unmerited provisions, righteousness of God, in the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ his Son purges, purifies us from sin, the christian, to being perfect (complete growth, of full age).
  If and when a person reaches this state of perfect (complete growth, of full age), can the person fall from grace, and sin, the answer is, yes. There is no guarantee that we will never sin again, however we have words of great assurance, great encouragement, perfect sacrifice to purge our conscience, great principles of living that empower us in Christ not to sin. If we happen to sin again, God provides us a way to be forgiven in I John 1:9


 So at every stage of maturing, a christian must be on guard, that he or she does not fall from grace, into sin.

Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

By
John J Nowak