If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 JOHN 1:10KJVWhat does 1 John 1:10 mean?
1 John 1:10 says that if anyone claims they have never sinned, they are calling God a liar and showing that God’s message is not truly in them. The verse stresses that denying personal sin is a serious rejection of God’s truth.
The apostle John is writing to early Christians, warning them against self-deception and the false teaching that people can be without sin. In plain terms, John is saying that honesty about our own wrongdoing is central to truly knowing and accepting God’s word.
The Greek behind 1 John 1:10
- ἁμαρτάνω (hamartanō, “sinned”): This word means to miss the mark or do wrong. John uses it to refer to any kind of wrongdoing, not just major offenses.
- ψεύστης (pseustēs, “liar”): Calling God a liar is a strong accusation. John is highlighting that denying sin is not just a mistake, but a direct contradiction to what God says about human nature.
- λόγος (logos, “word”): This means message, teaching, or word. John is saying that if someone denies their sin, God’s message does not truly live or take root in them.
Why 1 John 1:10 matters
- 1 John 1:10 clears up the idea that anyone can claim to be completely without sin and still be in line with God’s truth.
- The verse emphasizes that accepting our own sinfulness is a basic part of genuine faith and understanding of God’s message.
- This statement connects to the wider passage, where John is urging believers to walk in honesty and openness, not in denial or self-righteousness.