You do know that I agree with you on 1 John 1:8 don't you? Sometimes I wonder if you just assume you know what I'm writing, or actually read it.
Where we would have an issue with 1 JN, isn't with the "if we say we have no sin".... being applied to the Born again.
Its not that, perhaps.
But, its this, for certain... You teach that a born again Christian, will never want to commit any work of the Flesh.
That they never want to ever again enjoy some carnal behavior..... not ever.
Now, i dont call those "sin" because the born again is not under the law, so, the law can't define a carnal deed as a sin, unless it has dominion.
And because Christ is the "end of the Law for Righteousness, to everyone who believes", then that means the same deed that the Law defined as a sin, because the UNBELIEVER is under the law......... This same Law can't define that deed as a sin, if you are born again, and "not under the law, but under Grace".
And this teaching that is Paul's, makes a lot of people freak out, as they connect it incorrectly to : "teaching OSAS"..
But its not that at all. Its teaching that "where there is no law, there is no Transgression", and the born again are "not under the Law, but under Grace".
So, that is how we know that "if we say WE have no SIN, we deceive ourselves".... is not talking to anyone who is : "not under the LAW , but Under Grace"..
And notice this.. with regard to a born again person....
Paul says..."Use not your LIBERTY< for an occasion to the FLESH".
This means....>"now that you understand that you are not under the Law, and your sin is not counted against you.... 2nd Corinthians 5:19..... John 3:17...... Romans 4:8..... Then do not go and enjoy some carnal deed that you WANT TO DO.
Dont abuse the LIBERTY you have in Christ to go and be carnal... on purpose.
And Paul would not have given that instruction to the Born again, if they never wanted to go and enjoy some "FLESH".
Demas is an example of a carnal backslid believer.
Notice that Paul didnt say that "he was never one of us", as He said of others who left his ministry.
Demas was born again, he was a "brethren"..... and wanted to go back and enjoy the world., and did.
Probably, he liked to drink, he liked to chase women, and so forth, and wanted to go and have that....again.
He was probably a new convert,
a young man.... and just didnt stay with the plan.
Hes not the last of that kind...
What happened to him, is not recorded, but, Paul tells us, that "if you continue in this behavior, you will die".
So, that's what happened to Demas.. He went to Heaven, "before his time"....