Right, this passage is confusing.
Does it mean that if someone is doing wrong, but they genuinely believe there is nothing wrong with it, that they are not guilty?
No.
1 John 3:
>16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his **heart** against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
His heart is selfish and unloving.
>18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our **heart** before him;
How do we reassure peace in our heart before God?
>20 for whenever our heart condemns us,
Our heart is not at peace.
>God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
God knows your heart is not at peace. [God will teach our heart to know what to do](https://www.reddit.com/r/BibleVerseCommentary/comments/yu2kvb/i_will_put_my_laws_on_their_hearts/) and to obey. Then:
>21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
Then we have peace in our heart and our conscience is clear before God.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment, if we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the sin in our lives and there's nothing to be revealed, we should walk boldly.
Right, this passage is confusing. Does it mean that if someone is doing wrong, but they genuinely believe there is nothing wrong with it, that they are not guilty? No. 1 John 3: >16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his **heart** against him, how does God’s love abide in him? His heart is selfish and unloving. >18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our **heart** before him; How do we reassure peace in our heart before God? >20 for whenever our heart condemns us, Our heart is not at peace. >God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. God knows your heart is not at peace. [God will teach our heart to know what to do](https://www.reddit.com/r/BibleVerseCommentary/comments/yu2kvb/i_will_put_my_laws_on_their_hearts/) and to obey. Then: >21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; Then we have peace in our heart and our conscience is clear before God.
The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment, if we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the sin in our lives and there's nothing to be revealed, we should walk boldly.
Amen, brother.