========================================================================
  1 JOHN 1:10
  by John Gill
========================================================================

Summary: The apostle John addresses the false notion that people can be
without sin, emphasizing the universal nature of sin and the importance
of God's Word.

Topics: "Sin", "Acknowledgment of Sinfulness"
Scripture References: Psalm 14:3, Psalm 51:5, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 53:6, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:23, Galatians 6:3, Ephesians 2:1-3, 1 John 1:7-10

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Gill emphasizes the importance of acknowledging our sinfulness,
arguing that to claim one has never sinned is to contradict God's truth
and make Him a liar. He explains that such assertions reflect a
misunderstanding of original sin and the nature of humanity, as all are
born estranged from God and guilty of sin. Gill warns against the
beliefs of Gnostics and Judaizing Christians who consider themselves
pure despite their sinful actions, highlighting that true understanding
of God's word leads to a recognition of our need for grace and
repentance.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ver. 10. If we say that we have not sinned,.... Have never sinned, in
time past as well as now; deny original sin, and that men are born in
sin, but affirm they come into the world pure and holy; and assert that
concupiscence is not sin; and so not regarding internal lusts and
desires as sinful, only what is external, fancy they have so lived as to
have been without sin: but if any of us give out such an assertion,

we make him a liar: that is, God, who in his word declares that the
wicked are estranged from the womb, and go astray as soon as they be
born, speaking lies; that his own people are transgressors from the
womb; that all have sinned and come short of his glory; and that there
is none that does good, no, not one, but all are under sin, under the
power and guilt of it, and become filthy by it, and so obnoxious to the
wrath of God:

and his word is not in us; either Christ the Word of God, or rather the
word of God which declares these things; no regard is had unto it; it
"is not with us", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it; it is
not used and attended to as the rule and standard of truth, but is east
away and despised; at least it has no place in the hearts of such, nor
does it work effectually; for, was this the case, they would have other
notions of themselves than that of sinless creatures. The apostle has
regard either to the Gnostics, a set of heretics of this age, who
fancied themselves pure, spiritual, and perfect, even in the midst of
all their impurities, and notwithstanding their vicious lives; or to
judaizing Christians, and it may be to the Jews themselves, who
entertained such sort of notions as these of being perfect and without
sin {h}.

{h} Vid. T. Bab. Temura, fol. 15. 2. & Bava Kama, fol. 80. 1. T. Hieros.
Sota, fol. 24. 1. &. Chagiga, fol. 77. 4.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-gill/1-john-110/
========================================================================