If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Parallel translations
- WEB If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
- BSB If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.
- NKJV If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
- NASB If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
- NLT If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
To claim we have not sinned is to call God a liar and reject his word. Scripture testifies that all have sinned.
Overview
John's third false claim denies any actual sinning, which contradicts God's clear testimony about humanity. Such denial makes God 'a liar' and shows his word has no place within. The verse reinforces the necessity of honest confession and prepares for the assurance of Christ our Advocate in 2:1.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Jn 1:8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 1 Jn 5:10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
- 1 Jn 2:4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- Ps 130:3If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
- 2 Jn 1:2For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
- 1 Jn 2:14I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
- Col 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
- Job 24:25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
- 1 Jn 4:4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Jesus is the Word of life made manifest, the propitiation for our sins, the Son in whom is eternal life — 'that you may know that you have eternal life.'
How 1 John 1:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.