1 John 1:5-10 (NLT2)
5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
c The antithesis of divine light is sinful darkness which is a great temptation to many people who want to fellowship with God but want the sinful pleasures of darkness as well. They look for synthesis, a place where they say they are in agreement and joint participation with God, while they are actually walking in darkness and not practicing the truth.
John says reality will be found when you start living in the light, fellowship with believers, and constantly being cleansed from all sin by the blood of Jesus. His new thesis is too demanding for someone who wants to practice sinning.
Such a person claims to have no sin but is self-deluded and not living in the truth. But he points to God’s gracious opportunity: confess your sins, “I am faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you from all wickedness.” Taking this step would acknowledge disobedience and guilt and require repentance and submission to the first thesis that was too demanding.
Again, a synthesis: “Rather than repent and confess my sins, I’ll declare that I haven’t actually sinned.” Such nonsense calls God a liar and shows the word of God has no place in his heart. Synthetic reasoning is a hoax that is the basis of great hypocrisy that precludes spiritual reality and the joy John is seeking for his readers.
If you are entangled in any of this deception, please hurry to verse 9, confess your sins, receive forgiveness, and be restored to the light. God invites you, come quickly!