1 John 3:4-10
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
This is a difficult passage to understand, because some of the statements seem so absolute. Like verse 9: "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning". I do sin, so does this mean I am not born of God? We need to look at the context to understand this, for earlier in this letter John also says that if we claim to be without sin we lie (1 John 1:8-10). I think the way to reconcile this passage is to see that it speaks to our direction and position in Christ. Verse 6 says that "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning". Notice that it says "keeps on sinning", not just "sins". This is not saying that we will never sin again on this earth, but that we will be changed as we become more like Christ. This change will cause us to no longer desire to keep on sinning, and instead to become more like Christ. If there is no change in our lives then we are in denial and are not really God's child. But if we are God's child, then we shall slowly be conformed into His image.
God, I don't want to make a practice of sinning. Help me to practice righteousness (verse 7), and be more like You.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
This is a difficult passage to understand, because some of the statements seem so absolute. Like verse 9: "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning". I do sin, so does this mean I am not born of God? We need to look at the context to understand this, for earlier in this letter John also says that if we claim to be without sin we lie (1 John 1:8-10). I think the way to reconcile this passage is to see that it speaks to our direction and position in Christ. Verse 6 says that "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning". Notice that it says "keeps on sinning", not just "sins". This is not saying that we will never sin again on this earth, but that we will be changed as we become more like Christ. This change will cause us to no longer desire to keep on sinning, and instead to become more like Christ. If there is no change in our lives then we are in denial and are not really God's child. But if we are God's child, then we shall slowly be conformed into His image.
God, I don't want to make a practice of sinning. Help me to practice righteousness (verse 7), and be more like You.