Addressing the 1 John 1:8 Stronghold
1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10 are verses often taken out of context. They speak of the reality that "not having sinned," or "being cleansed from all sin," or having fellowship with God in the light cannot be claimed by someone who is yet to have turned to God in the way that He expects:
1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
So, the 1 John 1:8 & 10 scriptures affirm that there is a place for someone who is walking in darkness to admit being a a sinner—not yet a servant of God. Romans 3:23 speaks of the same reality that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That truth must be acknowledged by any sinner who will turn to God to be saved, through answering the call to repentance and faith in Jesus, which means hearing his word and obeying Him—being a doer of the word (see Acts 20:20-21 and James 1:21-22). One who is not ready to admit being a sinner separated from God because of sin precisely (see Isaiah 59:2) and would claim to have fellowship with God (1 John 1:7), that person would be a liar.
The 1 John 1:8 & 10 scriptures do not support a reality of ongoing sin and 1 John 1:9 confession for the supposedly saved person, especially when the confession is in hypocrisy or void of any resolution to call wrong what is wrong, and turn away and stay away from it, as the grace of God enables a servant of God to do.
It helps to see the grace of God this way:
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
Deliberate sinning is not what someone in Christ is called to. And confession of sins implies contrition about the sins being confessed in true repentance, and only that leads to the forgiveness of those sins being confessed:
Proverbs 28:13
The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.
So, that way, on a basis of genuine repentance, the door won't be left open and unguarded to just walk back to any such previously confessed and forsaken sins without resistance. That is what results in ongoing sin. Repenting is not just a matter of admitting to God, "I have sinned" and then staying in the same place of choosing sin over obedience to God. That shows no repentance at all. And the greatest danger is to never have gotten repentance right once and for all in the first place, which leads to believing the 1 John 1:8-9 myth that going on sinning and confessing even the same deliberate sins to no end is what the Christian life is about.
Going on sinning deliberately is knowing right from wrong and keeping on making the choice to do wrong (sin), or just being ignorant of God's ways as a sinner (Acts 17:30). The 1 John 1:8 scripture is not saying that servants of God need to keep on confessing that they are actually trapped in sin or in bondage to sin, which is precisely what Jesus would have saved them from (John 8:34-36, Romans 6:16-18). Because sin will not have dominion over someone who is under grace, and not under law (and its condemnation) as it would be the case for a sinner who still has not repented:
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
The place of no condemnation in Christ Jesus is not a place of being still in bondage to the law of sin and death:
Romans 8:1-2
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
If one approaches God the way He expects, the way forward from that square one will be clear. It's doing righteousness as a righteous servant of God or a saint who has died to sins—not keeping on being a sinner or worker of iniquity (Matthew 7:23) and admitting that or else the truth is not in you:
1 John 2:4
He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 3:6-7
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
1 Peter 2:21-24
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, 22 who “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth.” 23 Who, when he was cursed, did not curse back. When he suffered, did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; 24 who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose wounds you were healed.
Remember, the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, as the Bible warns in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 or Galatians 5:19-21, for instance. These scriptures speak of sins that are rooted in rebellion and the truth is not in someone who is walking in rebellion against God and not keeping his or her heart pure.
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires as in your ignorance, 15 but just as He who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
There is no holiness or sanctification to speak of on a foundation of ongoing sin:
1 Peter 4:1-3
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the desires of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
