BAD OR GOOD?

Some poetic reflections on I John 1:8 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

In pondering 1st John 1:8
I’d like to get my thinking straight.
Would you then tell me, if you please,
which one of these philosophies
describes your thinking more nearly:
that mortals fundamentally
should be considered  “bad,” or “good,”
as those two words are understood?
If you say “sinful, since the Fall,”                                                        
then you in fact agree with Paul,
and you can hold to that and still                                                              
believe in humankind’s free will,
while arguing that people tend
to disobey God in the end.
And yet would you not also say
there’s still much good in folks today?
It’s just that there has always been
no part of us not touched by sin.
That we are sinful to the core
is not acceptable, for sure,
to those who, by themselves esteemed,
feel they’ve no need to be redeemed!
If all are good, who would indeed
a summon’s to repent then need?
In that case one might wonder why
the Son of God would have to die?

BAD OR GOOD? THAT'S NOT THE POINT!
I John 1: 8 (See also Psalms 106:6, Psalm 143:2, Romans 3:10, 23.)

“Are human beings bad or good?”
That’s not the point. The question should
be put less theoretic’ly,
for it applies to you and me!
Would any of us dare to claim
we’ve never done a thing to shame
the name of Christ, or failed to do
something that in our heart we knew
we should have done?  Have we not had
some feelings that we knew were bad,
or said things we should not have said
or harbored mean thoughts in our head?
The truth indeed is obvious:
there is much sin in all of us.
“There is none righteous, no, not one!”
the Bible states ---except God’s Son.

ASSURANCE  OF  PARDON
I John 1:9  - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (RSV).

We may have pondered for the worse,
if we don’t factor in the verse
that follows. Oh my goodness, yes!
For John then says if we confess
our sins, that God is faithful, just,
and will forgive our sins, we trust,
and cleanse us from unrighteousness.
For that we must our thanks express!
In God our true salvation lies;
We need no longer theorize.