1 John 1:9

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 John 1:8-10

Sin and its forgiveness: v. 8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. v. 9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. v. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. What St. John here discusses is the heresy of perfectionism, the idea which is held by many people to this day, namely, that they can attain to such a perfect state in... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 John 1:8-10

3. Second Inference.—Perception and Confession of Sins1 John 1:8-108If we say that we have no19 sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.20 9If We confess our sins, he is faithful and just21 to forgive us our sins,22 and to cleanse23 us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned; we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.EXEGETICAL AND CRITICALConnection.—The structure of these verses is unmistakably the same as that of those immediately preceding them:... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 John 1:1-10

Fellowship in the Light 1 John 1:1-10 As the aged Apostle began to write he was living over again his first happy experiences with the Savior. He heard the voice, saw the person, touched the very body in which Deity tabernacled. It was too great a bliss to be enjoyed alone, and John tells us that we may enter into the same close partnership with the Father and the Son. But no impurity or insincerity is permissible to those who enter that fellowship. Our one aim should be to maintain such a... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 John 1:1-10

This is possibly the last apostolic message to the whole Church. It is complementary to the Gospel of John. Its subject is fellowship with God, into which believers are introduced through their union with Christ. The whole fact of the mission of our Lord is declared to be a manifestation of eternal life. Concerning this John wrote, 'We have heard," "we have seen," "we beheld," "our hands handled." The purpose of the manifestation was to bring men into fellowship with God. Through the... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - 1 John 1:2-10

The Christ Chapter 1 John 1:2-10 ; 1 John 2:1-2 INTRODUCTORY WORDS There is a striking similarity between the opening verses of the first chapter of the Gospel of John and the first chapter of the First Epistle of John. In the Gospel we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It goes on to say that the Word was made manifest. The Epistle says, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 1:8-9

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS‘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.’ 1 John 1:8-1 Samuel : The world which is around you hides from your eyes the world which is within—and when you think of sin at all, you do but remember some wrong thing which you have done, and you forget this dark and deadly poison which is hidden deep within. You... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:9

‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ The way to deal with sin is not by denying it or hiding from it, but by being open to the God Who is light. Then we can bring to Him those sins that grieve Him, that are revealed by His light, openly admitting them and acknowledging them to Him, and then know that He is the faithful God, the One Who is true to His promises and to His covenant with us, and that He will... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 1:5-10

1 John 1:5 to 1 John 2:2 . Fellowship with God Requires a Right View of Sin. 1 John 1:5-2 Samuel : . Spiritual fellowship depends on moral affinity. Hence since Jesus has declared the holy perfection of God, we cannot truthfully claim fellowship with Him, and at the same time be habitually committing sin. Only as we Christians constantly aim to be like God have we fellowship with Him and with one another, our sinfulness being cleansed by the blood of Christ. To deny that we are sinful or... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 John 1:9

But on the contrary, if we confess our sins, if we apply ourselves to him suitably to the condition of sinners, confessing ourselves such, with that self-abasing sense of sin which may dispose us to accept and apply his offered remedy, (upon which it is implied we will do it), he is faithful, so true to his promise, and just, fidelity being a part of justice; or there is with him that equity and righteousness, (which sometimes signify goodness, or clemency, 1 Samuel 12:7; Psalms 112:9, and... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 1 John 1:5-10

CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES1 John 1:5.—The first part of the epistle begins here. It is directed against the Gnostic teaching, that to a man of enlightenment all conduct is morally indifferent. In every age there have been those who claimed an interest in Christ while living in sin. St. John does not address sinners generally, but distinctly those who made Christian profession, but fell short of it through misapprehensions and self-delusions. God is light.—This is not merely the absolute fact... read more

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