Daily Thoughts from 1 John: Rationalizing Sin (1:8-10)

Daily Thoughts from 1 John: Rationalizing Sin

If we say 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. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  (1 John 1:8-10 ESV)

John now describes a second kind of response an unbeliever can make to the exposing light of a holy God, then shows the Christian’s proper response.

The unbeliever tries to explain away his sin — By saying here that someone can say, “I have no sin,” John does not mean that person is claiming to be sinless (that’s verse 10), but rather that his or her sin has no guilt (see the same phrase used by Jesus in John 15:24, translated “not be guilty of sin”).  There is admission of sin but not guilt.  This person is not deceiving others like the hypocrite but deceiving himself.  He is RATIONALIZING.  When my darkness is exposed by God’s light and I make an excuse for it (“I was under pressure,” or “I had no other choice,” or “I’m just exercising my freedom in Christ”) I am showing that the truth is not in me.

The believer confesses his sin — If I confess my sin when God’s light shows it up, rather than rationalize it, I am agreeing with God that it is darkness and needs forgiveness and cleansing.  And God is faithful to provide that when I do.  Christ has paid my debt so I am forgiven already, but my moment by moment connection to God must also be restored as I line up with His view of my darkness.

Just as in a family my child is always my child and so, in that sense, always forgiven no matter what, yet when my child acts as though his or her rebellion against my authority is justified there is a breach in our relationship that needs mending.  When they come to me and humbly acknowledge that they were wrong they don’t become my child again but they and I are at one again and my child is cleansed.  So it is with our loving heavenly Father.

Once again it is likely that those adhering to the error about Jesus at the church in Ephesus were committing sins that they then justified.  They weren’t hiding it like their more hypocritical compatriots more than likely because they felt in more of a position of power.  If you are one down in power in a relationship you are more likely to hide your sin than justify it.  People who don’t feel as much need for approval will often resort to justification of their behavior that doesn’t comport with the values of the group.  And true believers can fall into this trap, as well, deceiving ourselves and failing to recognize that we are sinners just like everyone else in the church and our status is not determined by anything but being in Christ.