1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.… I. Confession must be PARTICULAR. While you confess only in general terms, you confess others' sins rather than yours; but this is it to descend into our own hearts, and find out our just and real debt; to charge ourselves as narrowly as we can, that He may discharge us fully, and forgive us freely. II. Confession must be UNIVERSAL, that is, of all sin, without partiality or respect to any sin. I doubt if a man can truly repent of any sin, except he in a manner repent of all sin, or truly forsake one sin, except there be a divorcement of the heart from and forsaking of all sin; therefore the apostle saith, "If we confess our sins," not sin taking in all the body and collection of them. Then there lies a necessity upon us to confess what we have; we have all sin, and so should confess all sins. III. Confession should be PERPETUATED AND CONTINUED as long as we are in this life. That stream of corruption runs continually, let the stream of your contrition and confession run as incessantly; and there is another stream of Christ's blood, that runs constantly too, to cleanse you. (H. Binning.) Parallel Verses KJV: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.WEB: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. |
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