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I. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN.
A. The word sin singular is the denial of the sin nature of man.
1.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all sinned:
a. The word (have) was inserted by the translators the Greek text just declares "For all sinned."
b. Adam acted as a federal head for all of mankind. Through his sin, death entered into the world. We observe to the present time that all men die, sooner or later.
c. The doctrine of Adam acting for mankind in his sinning is an important doctrine for it is tied to the fact that if one could make all sinners, then One can make all men righteous.
ROM 5:15 But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
ROM 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
2. There is a teaching known as the moral government of God that basically denies the sinful nature of man.
a. They teach that we are born neutral and that we all became sinners by choice.
b. It teaches that I am a sinner because I chose to sin, even as Adam became a sinner through his choice to sin.
c. Whereas the scriptures teach that I sin because I am a sinner. My sinning does not make me a sinner, only proves that I am a sinner.
d. Looking at the evidence it would be hard to prove the idea that I am a sinner by choice, for that means that every man has chosen to sin.
e. It would seem that there would be a few examples that they could point to as perfect men who have chosen not to sin beside Jesus.
f. The danger of this teaching is that if one did not sin for us all, then by One could we not all be made righteous. Even as I sinned on my own, I would have to become righteous on my own.
3. Paul writing to the Ephesians declared that we were by nature children of wrath, even as others.
4. A denial of the sin nature is according to John self deception.
a. It is to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
b. John declares that if we make such a denial that the truth is not in us.
II. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS.
A. In this case the word sins is plural and refers to the sins that have sprung from the sinful root.
1. It is the recognition that the sinful root has produced sinful fruit.
2. The Bible declares that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.
B. What are we to do about our sins?
1. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. Our confession is to God.
a. James said that we are to confess our faults one to another.
b. Sins must be confessed to God.
c. As David was seeking the mercy of God for his sins, he prayed, "According to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions, for against You and You only have I sinned and done this great iniquity in Your sight.
3. He is faithful to forgive.
MIC 7:18 Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.
4. He is just to forgive. The just basis for the forgiveness of our sins is in the fact that Jesus died in our place.
ROM 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
ROM 3:25 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
ROM 3:26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
5. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Jesus said to His disciples, "Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken unto you."
6. David asked, "How shall a young man cleanse his way?" He answered his own question by declaring, "By taking heed to Your word."
7. In
Isaiah 1:18 God said, "Come now, let us reason together saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet you can be as white as snow, though they be red as crimson, you may be as white as wool."
8. Cleanses us from all unrighteousness, how much is all?
9. When David was faced with his sin by the prophet, he cried? "I have sinned." Immediately the prophet said, "Your sins are forgiven, you shall not die."
10. His son Solomon maybe thinking of the sin of his father and mother said, "He who seeks to cover his sin shall not prosper but whoever will confess his sin shall be forgiven."
11. David upon hearing the words of the prophet declared,
PSA 32:1 Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.
PSA 32:2 Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.
PSA 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
PSA 32:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.
PSA 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.
12. It is amazing how unconfessed sin can just nag at you.
III. IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED.
A. Many people are not willing to acknowledge their sin.
1. They are always seeking to justify their actions.
2. They blame others for their shortcomings. "Our fathers have eaten sour grapes, and our teeth are set on edge."
3. Until there is confession, there can be no restoration.
4. The case of a pastor who fell in love with his secretary, and made his wife so miserable he turned her into a hellion, then justified his divorcing because she was impossible to get along with. He the whole while sought to justify himself because his wife was such a shrew. He was one of our finest young ministers and I longed to see him restored to the ministry. Until he was willing to acknowledge his sin, our hands were tied.
5. If people would only confess that they have sinned, they you have the opportunity to reach out and help them.
B. They deny their guilt, they deny that what they have done was wrong. They keep excusing their actions. It leaves no opportunity for restoration and forgiveness.
C. In so doing we make God a liar. Why? Because it was God who said, there is none that is righteous, no not one. God declared, "All we like sheep have gone astray."
D. His word is not in us.
Verse-Reference
Square — [Jhn 1:1 KJV]
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