“SPIRITUALLY SUPERIOR AND SINLESS?”

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

1 John 1:8

Over the years, I have spoken to a number of people, trying to win them for Christ. I have met individuals coming from different backgrounds and possessing varying worldviews. One of the beliefs that never fails to catch my attention is the claim to sinlessness. Some people argue that they have no reason to ask God for forgiveness because they have never sinned. Certain people even claim, “I try to live my life as perfectly as possible so that I don’t have to bother asking God for forgiveness.”

We are entitled to our own opinion, but that doesn’t necessarily make our judgment right. Thankfully, we have God’s word as the true measure of truth. Here’s what Scripture has to say:

“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20

In today’s verse, John talks about those who claimed to be spiritually superior and therefore free from guilt. They believed that sin was only a matter of the flesh and had nothing to do with the spirit. Therefore, morality did not apply to them.

Unfortunately, such a mindset is wrong and leads a person to deny responsibility for his evil actions. In other words, it doesn’t matter what he does because there is no such thing as good or evil. When we think this way, we are deceived and the truth is not in us.

The Bible tells us that sin has corrupted humanity, and no one is exempted. We are all guilty before a righteous, holy God, and we are at His mercy.

This self-delusion of sinlessness doesn’t only affect unbelievers. In fact, some professing Christians think that they no longer have the ability to sin! This epistle is a response to such false beliefs.

If we truly are in the light, we would understand how frail our human nature is and never think—not even for a second—that we are sin-free. Instead, we would realize our depravity and constant need for the Lord’s cleansing.

Pursue the Savior today!