Bible Verse of the Day Thursday March 28th, 2024

1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

As we face these truths, we can experience spiritual breakthroughs in our relationships with family, friends, co-workers, the Lord, and ourselves because sin and disobedience of God affect everything. Jesus spoke of the reality of sin often during His time on earth. We read some of those statements in the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as follows: In the opening chapter of Matthew, verse 21 reads, The Bible speaks of the reality of sin in the human heart and soul from cover to cover, and we cannot deny that it doesn’t do so.

 

In John 1:26, we read of John the Baptist’s proclamation: “Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The Bible is clear that sin is a major problem for humans and that central to the Christian faith is God’s plan and offer to forgive us our sins, help us return to the Lord, and live justifiably with Him. We see this in the availability of forgiveness from sin through Christ. In these verses, John mentions the reality of sin and the availability of forgiveness.

 

The scriptures also teach us about the reality of sin, the availability of forgiveness from sin, and the power and pull of sin over our lives. Our central bible passage makes this truth clear. Now, at first glance, this passage seems rather pessimistic. That is because John points out what has been a joint human action since Adam and Eve realized what they had done in eating the forbidden fruit: denial and self-justification.

“If we claim to be without sin…” John minces no words to the Christians and Christian community to which he is writing. “If we say that we are okay, that everything is okay, that we have no sin running around in our thoughts, feelings, and attitudes, then we are pulling the wool over our eyes and souls!”

 

John knows the truth about the human condition. By this point in his life, he has the perspective of wisdom and experience behind him regarding the spiritual condition of humanity. He has seen firsthand, as he recalls in his gospel account and in the three books, we read a portion from today, people who set themselves up for a fall when they fail to deal with the power of sin and temptation properly. Paul says it well in 1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful not to fall! “Finally, John’s public pronouncement makes clear that Christ, the Lamb of God, takes away (forgives) the sin of the world.