Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 1:7

"but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." — 1 John 1:7 (ASV)

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

So that, in the very highest state to which we can attain in this world, namely, walking in the light, as God is in the light, and having fellowship with him, even then we will sin, and will still need the blood of Christ to cleanse us from its stain. So those err exceedingly who say that a Christian can or does live utterly free from sin.

Either they have lowered the standard by which they judge people's actions, or they excuse themselves on some Antinomian principle, or else they must be altogether ignorant of the truth about the matter. For if we walk in the light, as God is in the light, and have fellowship with him, still the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin; and, therefore, there is sin needing to be cleansed, for Christ does nothing superfluous.

But what a mercy it is for us to feel the continual cleansing of the precious blood of Jesus, so that, if we sin through ignorance, or if we sin by omission or by commission, that precious blood constantly keeps us so pure, that we can still walk with God!

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light—

Not to the same degree, but in the same manner—

We have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

So you see that when we walk the best, when we walk in the light, as He is in the light, when our fellowship is of the highest order, yet still we need daily cleansing.

It does not say—mark this, O my soul—it does not say, The blood of Jesus Christ cleansed, but cleanseth.

If guilt returns, His power may be proved again and again; there is no fear: all my daily slips and shortcomings shall be graciously removed by this precious blood.

But there are some who think they are perfectly sanctified and have no sin.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light,

Not to the same degree, but in the same manner.

We have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

So you see that when we walk the best, when we walk in the light as he is in the light, when our fellowship is of the highest order, yet still we need daily cleansing. It does not say – mark this, O my soul – it does not say that the blood of Jesus Christ "cleansed," but that it "cleanseth."

If guilt returns, His power may be proved again and again; there is no fear that all my daily slips and shortcomings will be graciously removed by this precious blood.

But there are some who think they are perfectly sanctified and have no sin.