How does this verse connect with Romans 3:23 on human sinfulness? Verse in Focus 1 John 1:8 — “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Shared Truth about Every Human - Both passages announce the same verdict: sin is universal. - 1 John 1:8 tackles self-deception; Romans 3:23 tackles self-confidence. Together they close every escape hatch we might use to excuse ourselves. Parallels That Stand Out - Audience: • 1 John addresses professing believers. • Romans addresses the whole world. → No group is exempt. - Vocabulary: • “Have no sin” (1 John) vs. “all have sinned” (Romans). → Whether we deny it (John) or simply ignore it (Romans), the fact remains. - Consequence: • 1 John warns, “truth is not in us.” • Romans warns, “fall short of the glory of God.” → Sin blocks truth internally and glory eternally. Why We’re Prone to Deny Sin - Pride blinds us (Jeremiah 17:9). - Comparison with “worse” sinners soothes us (Luke 18:11-14). - Cultural re-branding of sin as mere “mistakes” softens it (Isaiah 5:20). Other Scriptures Echoing the Same Theme - Ecclesiastes 7:20 — “There is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” - Psalm 51:5 — “Surely I was sinful from birth…” - Isaiah 64:6 — “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” - James 2:10 — “Whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at one point is guilty of all.” Practical Takeaways - Confession replaces denial (1 John 1:9). - Humility replaces self-righteousness (Luke 18:13). - Dependence on Christ replaces confidence in self (Romans 3:24-25). Connecting the Dots 1 John 1:8 exposes our tendency to whitewash sin; Romans 3:23 exposes the fact of sin itself. Together they silence excuses, compel honest confession, and open the door to grace offered through Jesus Christ alone. |
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