Truth #336 - Our relationship with sin tells us about our relationship with Christ - 1 John 1-3

1 John 1:8-10 (ESV Strong's)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Truth:  Our relationship with sin tells us a lot about our relationship with Christ.

John was writing his epistle to make sure the believers he was writing to had a deeper understanding of their fellowship with the Son and that their "joy" would be made complete (1 John 1:3-4).  In the above passage he goes on to write to them that he wants them to understand that the way they look at and interact and deal with sin is a true evidentiary description of their relationship with Christ.   The difference between those who "know" Christ and have a relationship with Him and those who do not is totally based upon what has been done with sin in their lives.  To the non-believer, sin is a nuisance and a minor element that holds them back from success or causes them to be socially unacceptable.   To the believer it is something that we confess and seek Christ's forgiveness (of which He freely offers to His children ... AMAZING!!!).   To the non-believer, sin is something that is a character flaw overcome by self-discipline and introspection.  To the believer sin is something that separates them from God and needs the reconciliation of Christ's finish work on the cross to deal with.   To the non-believer sin is a simple mistake dealt with via psychological counter-strategies.  To the believer sin is an act of our sin nature that separates us from God that needs to be dealt through confession (I have in in my life AND I can't deal with it myself) and forgiven by God.   If we have a right relationship with God we will see sin as something we do that must be confessed and something to seek God's faithful forgiveness.  If you are not bothered by sin in your life you are not a child of God.  If you are a believer and IF it bothers you when you sin, you will seek God's forgiveness (even repeatedly ... God can't be described as "faithful" if He only forgave us once.  He must be forgiving us multiple times).  Our relationship to sin tells us about our relationship to God.