1 John 1:10

that we have not sinned This is not the same as -that we have no sin" (1 John 1:8), and therefore we have once more not repetition, but expansion and strengthening of what precedes. -Have no sin" refers to a sinful state; -have not sinned" refers to the actual commission of particular acts of sin: the one is the inward principle, the other is its result. But the whole context shews that neither expression refers to sins committed before baptism: no Christian would have denied these: moreover S. John does not write to the recently converted, but to those who have had time to grow lukewarm and indifferent. Both expressions refer to sin after baptism, and the perfect (ἡμαρτήκαμεν) has the common meaning of the Greek perfect, present result of past action; -we are in the condition of not having sinned". This use of the perfect is specially frequent in S. John.

we make Him a liar Worse than -we lead ourselves astray" (1 John 1:8), as that is worse than -we lie" (1 John 1:6). This use of the verb -make" in the sense of -assert that one is" is frequent in the Gospel: -He madeHimself the Son of God"; -Every one that makethhimself a king" (John 19:7; John 19:12; comp. John 5:18; John 8:53; John 10:33). God's promise to forgive sin to the penitent would be a lie if there were no sin to be repented of. And more than this; God's whole scheme of salvation assumes that all men are sinful and need to be redeemed: therefore those who deny their sinfulness charge God with deliberately framing a vast libel on human nature. Whereas S. Paul says, -Let God be found true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:3).

His word is not in us God's revelation of Himself has no home in our hearts: it remains outside us, as the light remains outside and separated from him who shuts himself up in darkness. The expressions, -to be in" and -to abide in", to express intimate relationship, are characteristic of S. John: and either of the things related can be said to be in the other. Thus, either -His word is not in us" (comp. 1 John 2:14), or -If ye abide in My word" (John 8:31): either -The truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8), or -He standeth not in the truth" (John 8:44). Sometimes the two modes of expression are combined; -Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4). -His word" means especially the Gospel: as it is the sins of Christianswhich are being considered, the O.T., though not excluded, cannot be specially meant. -Word" is more personal than -the truth" (1 John 1:8), which does not necessarily imply a speaker.