Justin Houtz

Jeremiah 48-49; Psalm 67; 1 John 1

DateVersionReading Plan
August 20, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

1 John 1

Observation & Interpretation

John’s first letter begins without greeting or formal introduction, but rather goes directly into testimony of the “word of life”, Jesus. The “life was made manifest”; they had seen it and now proclaim the eternal life which was with the Father and made manifest to them. This they did in order that there would be fellowship with them as they had fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. John then explains that they are writing so that their joy may be complete.

John continues regarding the message received from Him, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. He makes clear that if we claim to have fellowship with Him but walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. However, if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and are cleansed of all sin by the blood of Jesus. John then addresses sin itself, that if we say we are without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we instead confess our sins—to acknowledge them and bring them before Him—He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In frank manner, the Believer’s Bible Commentary says that “We must drag them out into the open before God, call them by their names, take sides with God against them, and forsake them. Yes, true confession involves forsaking of sins: ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy’ (Prov. 28:13).” (BBC).

John then takes it a level further and says that if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar and His word is not in us. The Believer’s Bible Commentary again says that, “in order to be in fellowship with God, we must not deny that we have committed acts of sin. God has stated over and over in His word that all have sinned. To deny this is to make God a liar. It is a flat contradiction of His word, and a complete denial of the reason the Lord Jesus came to suffer, bleed, and die.”

Application

It should pierce the hearts of the saints the progressive manner with which John speaks of sin. It is self-deception to say we are without sin—an terrible consequence in itself—but such a false disposition results in something even worse: making God a liar. God’s Word is clear that we are corrupt with indwelt sin. To assert otherwise is to be in opposition to Scripture and is a direct affront against God Himself. May the people of God never think themselves to be without sin fully in this life, but in humility bring our sin before Him in earnest confession. For if we do, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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