This thought is based upon three verses in the first chapter of the little book of I John. The phrase above occurs three times:

• If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (I John 1:6)
  
• If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (I John 1:8)
  
• If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (I John 1:10)

Let us consider the last one first – it covers our past: Why do we make Him [God] a liar? Because God has declared all have sinned (Rom 6:23). When we claim to have never sinned, we are calling God Himself a liar. I have heard people make statements to the effect that they have not sinned; I think they have a misunderstanding of “sin” – they are probably thinking that sin is some terrible deed like murdering someone, or robbing a bank, or some such awful thing. A definition of sin I read or heard is that sin is “any thought, word, or action against the will of God”. There have been too many times in my own life that I have been uncaring about the will of God and determined to go my own way. This is sin, and I think reasonable people would have to admit that they have sinned.

The other two verses deal with the present: verse eight rather destroys the idea that we can reach some kind of ideal state in which we no longer sin (I understand that this idea is taught in some denominations). However, the Scriptures, by which we should judge everything plainly states here that such a statement is merely self-deception. The truth then is that we DO have sin, but the great news is that though we have sin, we can be in fellowship with Him: the next verse tells us how: If, instead of denying our sins, we confess them, we hear great news: He is faithful and just to forgive us – how great and wonderful is He! Thus forgiven, we can be in fellowship with Him.

Finally, verse six deals with those who claim to be in fellowship with God, with sin cleansed, and yet are walking in darkness: such people are hypocrites; they are lying. If we are in this state, our walk does not match our talk. May such a state bother us enough to drive us to cleansing and restored fellowship!