Mensa Otabil - Being Real With God (10/03/2025)
Today, we conclude our teaching on First John, Chapter One. I trust that it has been useful to you, and we conclude with verse number 10: «If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.» I want you to pay attention to the number of times that John repeats this assertion about those who deny the reality of sin. He condemns the attitude multiple times in First John, Chapter One. He repeats, «If you say you have no sin,» «If you say you have no sin,» «If we say we have no sin.»
Why is he making the same assertion over and over again? Because it is very important, and he doesn’t want us to reach that point, as it is a heresy against the truth of God. Anyone in our modern times who says that they are so perfect in their Christian life that they have no sin is living a self-deluded life. John actually states that if you believe this, you are trying to make God a liar because you are going contrary to the revealed truth of God. He says that if you have this belief system, then the word of God does not live in you. In essence, he is saying that if you hold this point of view, then you are not a Christian, because the word of God is not in you. If the word of God is not in you, then you don’t belong to Him.
This is something very critical that John wants Christians of his time and ours to pay attention to. Nobody should go about saying, «Our sin has no power over me; I am so righteous, I am so perfect that I can’t sin.» Yes, it is good to aim for righteous living before God and to lead a holy life, but the more we see the holiness of God, the more we also see our need for Him. This is the fundamental aspect of our faith. God has called us to a life of holiness but not to self-righteousness or self-delusion.
We cannot presume that simply by repeating to ourselves that we are holy and righteous and doing well, we are free from the responsibility of guarding against sin, protecting our hearts from temptation, and seeking to trust in the sufficiency of God’s grace to help us live the righteous Christian life. We have learned from John that the Christian life is built on the foundation of the reality of Christ-the Christ who came, who was heard, who was seen, who was examined, and who was touched. Our faith is an examined faith. It is a faith that has come about because people inquired and came to a conclusion about who Jesus Christ is. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh. He died in the flesh, resurrected in the flesh, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. That is the foundation of our faith, and we must hold onto that foundation throughout our Christian life.
When we come before the Lord, the same Jesus receives us. It is His sacrifice that makes it possible for God to forgive us our sins: the sins of our old nature which is forgiven upon our salvation, and the sins we commit after we have come to know Christ. In both cases, Christ is our advocate, and in both cases, Christ’s sacrifice takes care of us. I trust that you will commit to the Christian life-to know Jesus Christ, to love Him, to serve Him, to make Him the center of your life-and that you will live your Christian life relying on Him every day, every moment, and every step, to guide you, lead you, and help you live for Him in a way that affirms the truth of God so that His word continues to grow in us. From tomorrow, I will start a new study as we begin the week leading to the final week of the Lord Jesus Christ, and then we will look at Easter week as well.
Let’s pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, You know me through and through. I come before You just as I am. Help me to live for You. In Jesus' name, amen.»
Well, my friends, I will catch you tomorrow. I am Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.