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John A. Broadus
If we say that 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 unrighteous-ness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. I John 1:8-10
The apostle is making an
earnest, vehement protest against living in sin, when one professes to be Christian. God
is Light, and in him no darkness at all-to say therefore that we have fellowship with him,
and walk in darkness is to lie.
But here must arise in the mind of even the earnest Christian the thought that he has
sinned, even though with all his efforts he has striven to walk only in the light, yet he
has sinned. The apostle regards this state of mind and calls attention to the provision
for pardon of our sins. In the midst of such arguments and precepts occurs the text.
Suppose one stood up before an audience such as this to speak of innocence and excellence
and merited felicitation. How utopian! You would call him a fool or a maniac. But I come
but to speak of sin and salvation. Hear then for your soul's salvation, hear for eternity.
I. The evils of denying that we are sinners.
1. To do this is to deceive ourselves.
(a) Some foolishly make professions of sinless perfection.
(b) Unconverted men are often unwilling to face self-examination and delude themselves.
(c) It is a delusion. God's Word, here and elsewhere, declares we are sinners. Our own
conscience condemns us. Some object here that their consciences do not condemn them. To
some extent this may be true; the conscience may be stupefied and perverted through result
of previous errors and misconduct.
It is lamentable to be deceived about anything-most of all about this.
2. To deny that we are sinners is to make God a liar.
(a) Because he has expressly and repeatedly declared it. In Romans, Chapter 3, the apostle
Paul has gathered dark fragments from many a monument of wickedness, and combined them
here into one mournful mosaic, that he might give at least some faint representation of
human guilt.
(b) All the arrangements of the plan of salvation presuppose the sin of men, of all men,
of every man.
Will you call God a liar? If not, then you are a sinner. Unless we are forgiven, we
perish. Let us confess our sins-inwardly, as to God. Ps. 32:5, Prov. 28:13.
II. The provision God has made for our forgiveness.
1. This is consistent with God's justice. This is through the mediation of Christ. Christ
is our advocate, our propitiation.
(a) Is the vicarious death of Christ itself consistent with God's justice? Perfectly, when
we remember that it was voluntary-"No man taketh it from me; I lay down my life of
myself." All the noblest acts of heroism with which Christianity adorned have been of
this character-self-sacrifice for others' good. Is his death capable of being accounted
for on any other principle? Why could not this cup pass from him?
(b) Does Christ's propitiatory death remove the obstacles to forgiveness? So God's Word
declares in John 2:1, 2 and Romans 3: 24-26. This atoning death manifests at once God's
displeasure with transgression, and his mercy to the transgressor-condemns sin, but saves
the sinner. Thus if we confess our sins, we may be forgiven for Jesus' sake.
See then, fellow sinner, that our sins may be forgiven, without violating God's justice,
without injury to his moral government.
2. But God is pledged that they shall be forgiven It is of his mercy, his favor-gratitude
so far as we are concerned-but he has pledged himself-his faithfulness to his promises is
involved, his equity in fulfilling his engagements. These promises of God's Word, though
they may be familiar, are hope of forgiveness.
Come then to God! Do not deny that you are a sinner, but confess your sins, and seek
forgiveness. God's fidelity to his pledged Word is the assurance that he will forgive.
Yea, will cleanse from all unrighteousness-will treat us at once as if we were not
unrighteous, and will gradually correct and remove our personal unrighteousness, until at
last we shall be perfectly holy in heaven.
Come then for "he that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but Whosoever confesseth
and forsaketh them shall find mercy." Confess, determine to forsake your sin, and you
shall find mercy-for "he is faithful and just" to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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