When we say we 'still have sin', you really mean we 'still have a sin nature'..that I agree with. But why do we have to confess our sin nature if it is something that you and God knows you will not be free of in this life? It makes no sense to me to ask God's forgiveness for a sin-nature, but it does make sense to me, to ask God for forgiveness of past sins committed and then be completely free of those sins. Once confessed and forgiven God remembers them no more and removes the sins from us so I don't think it's right to say we "still have the sin" ... but it does make sense to say we "still have the ability to sin". But I don't think that is what 1 John is addressing, but 1 John is basically saying "don't hide your sins that you have committed, confess them...".. I don't think it is saying " you must always have sin " when in fact you may not... it is saying anyone who denies they have sin when in fact they do, is a liar. I don't buy this condemnation and guilt trip that Christians have - that they must always think of themselves as having sin, or some sort of 'hidden sin' they are unaware of.
I think we are probably in agreement.
When I say I will always have sin it is because without Jesus and his grace I have no hope of being free of sin.
The flesh seeks itself. But through Jesus , because of his sacrifice, even though I am still in the flesh, I am no longer a slave to it. Because of the grace of Our lord Jesus all I do is made good and glorifies God because of his grace through Jesus.
I cannot overcome anything on my own, but because of Jesus, in him , we have overcome the world.
I hope I clarified better.
smiles and God bless, pickles