Bible Strands
1 John 1:10
If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The apostle John addresses early Christian communities, writing immediately after establishing that confession brings God's faithful forgiveness. He contrasts the claim of sinless perfection with the reality of ongoing human failure.
The words — The Greek ἡμαρτήκαμεν (hēmartēkamen) denotes a completed action of sinning, while ψεύστην (pseustēn) literally means "liar." The text explicitly states that denying personal sin directly attributes falsehood to God and excludes His word from the speaker.
The thread — This assertion parallels the self-deception warned in 1 John 1:8 and the divine testimony affirmed in 1 John 5:10. It aligns with the Psalmist's declaration that God's strict accounting of iniquity leaves no one standing (Psalm 130:3).
Why it lands — The verse demands honest acknowledgment of sin rather than spiritual self-justification. It requires readers to accept their moral failure as the necessary ground for receiving God's truth and cleansing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Cross-references
- 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- 1 John 5:10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
- Psalms 130:3 If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
- 1 John 2:4 If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- 2 John 1:2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:
- Job 24:25 If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”
- Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
- 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- 1 John 4:4 You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.