1 John 1:8 (GNV)

Passage

If we say that we haue no sinne, we deceiue our selues, and trueth is not in vs.

Nearby Context

1 John 1:6 If wee say that wee haue fellowship with him, and walke in darkenesse, we lie, and doe not truely:

1 John 1:7 But if we walke in the light as he is in the light, we haue fellowship one with another, and the blood of Iesus Christ his Sonne clenseth vs from all sinne.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we haue no sinne, we deceiue our selues, and trueth is not in vs.

1 John 1:9 If we acknowledge our sinnes, he is faithfull and iust, to forgiue vs our sinnes, and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes.

1 John 1:10 If wee say we haue not sinned, wee make him a liar, and his word is not in vs.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "haue", "sinne", "deceiue", "selues", and "trueth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "haue" and "sinne", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "But if we walke in the light..." into verse 9's "If we acknowledge our sinnes he is...", so "haue" and "sinne" belong inside that flow. In 1 John context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "haue" and "sinne" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.