1 John 1:1-4 (ESV)

[1]  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— [2]  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— [3]  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. [4] And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

John begins his letter with a focus on fellowship, fellowship with God and with each other (see vs 3). Notice that fellowship with each other is based on fellowship with God. The interesting thing is that fellowship with God is not based on being sinless. “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” (1 Jn 1:8-9).

The Body of Christ is too often divided over issues that we feel make others unacceptable. One individual can’t pray with another because they are from a different denomination. One church ostracizes a member because they saw him coming out of a bar, or watching television, or sending his children to the wrong school. We divide over issues that we have deduced as sin. Sin then precludes fellowship. John says that he is writing so that they can have fellowship. He is writing so that they walk in the light as God is in the light. But in the same paragraph he says that they need to acknowledge their sin. How do we navigate this?

Let me suggest that first, we have to stop defining sin by our own standards. We can logically reason to the point of making almost any activity sin if we so choose. Sometimes it feels like we are more interested in defining and categorizing sin than we are in fellowshipping with Jesus.

Second, we need to be honest about sin in our lives. We want to ignore issues, or try to quietly walk away from bad behavior, but God calls us to agree with him about sin in our lives. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9). To confess means to say the same thing, or voice the same conclusion. In other words, if God calls something sin, we need to acknowledge it as sin. We have a tendency to talk about mistakes, stupid things we done, or problems we have. We seldom come right out and acknowledge to God that we have sinned. We might even ask God to forgive us, but do we agree with him that we have sinned. “God forgive me for that stupid mistake I made” is hardly the same as confession.

Third, we need to stop acting as though God has appointed us the morality and ethics police. John does not point out the sins of his readers. He simply tells them to be honest about their sin. Yes, there is a place for restoring a brother caught up in sin. “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1). But notice that our place is restoration, not conviction. We are never to play Holy Spirit in the lives of others. Later in this short letter of John he will write, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death” (1Jn 5:16). Here one is to pray for his brother committing “a sin not leading to death.” James 5:19 talks about a brother who has wandered from the truth. James calls us to restore our brother. Prayer and restoration are the roles God calls us to. Not conviction. We are not the morality police. We are the hands of God for restoration.

You would never see Paul or John slipping up next to a brother to say, “Brother, I think you are watching too much television, or playing too much golf. I think it is becoming an idol in your life.” That is the job of the Holy Spirit. Our place is prayer and restoration. James 4:17 says, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Notice that it does not say, “Whoever knows the right thing to do and his brother fails to do it, for his brother it is sin.”

Sin is a very real issue. Paul and John agree that they have not yet arrived at a point of sinlessness (see Ph’p 3:12). They never defended sin in their lives. They were honest with God about their own sin. But, they never slipped into the role of morality police. Fellowship is not based on perfection. It is based on our fellowship with God. Our salvation is based on the death and resurrection of Christ. Our fellowship is based on humility, honesty, and faith.