“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
We come today to one of the most challenging verses in the Bible to interpret, no matter what theological viewpoint one may approach it. The problem phrase is, “and he cannot sin.”
Some teach that a Christian can reach a point of sinless perfection where he does not sin again. It is possible from this view not to commit even one act of sin. John already argued against this view in 1:6,8,10; 2:1-2.
Others teach that this verse refers to only willful sins. A Christian cannot commit deliberate sins. He might slide into sin unintentionally, but he cannot go into sin deliberately. Neither of these two interpretations is true to this text.
Whoever has been born of God
John uses the term “born” metaphorically of God conferring His own nature upon believers. He imparts spiritual life at the point of conversion (Jn 3:3, 5-7; 1 Jn 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18). We can translate “has been born” to beget, engender, bring forth, produce.
1 Jn 5:1, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.”
The words “has been born” are in the Greek perfect tense and indicate that spiritual birth occurred in the past, with the results continuing. We receive a divine nature at the point of salvation that continues with us until we go to glory.
PRINCIPLE:
God imparts the principle of eternal life to us at the point of salvation.
APPLICATION:
Christians are the spiritual offspring of God (Ro 4:16,18; 9:8) by promise (Ga 3:29). The principle of spiritual life imparted to the believer abides in him forever, without the possibility of extinction. God’s “seed” is God’s nature or capacity implanted into the believer at salvation (2:29; 4:7; 5:1,4,18). It is the principle of life that God imparted at salvation.
Jn 1:12-13, 12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
1 Pe 1:23, “…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because
‘All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.’
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
2 Pe 1:4, “…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
I still don’t know what the vs is saying? I really don’t understand what you are trying to say here?
michele
I perceive one of two possible interpretations:
a. If one is considered to be sinless–as we are, once we have Christ–then God continues to perceive us as sinless, regardless of whether we commit a sin. Hence, we “cannot sin” in that God does not count our action as sin. This seems to me to be a reasonable interpretation, since Scripture calls believers “holy.”
b. It could also mean that one cannot sin without conscience; that is, a Christian cannot cavalierly say, “Oh, whatever . . . so I’m gonna’ sin. Big deal.” A Christian who knowingly commits a sin cannot sin without feeling personally upset about it. Hence, he or she “cannot sin” cavalierly.
Either of these interpretations, or, perhaps, both of them, seem to me to be defensible.
as believers we now have Gods nature or seed inside us. it is this nature that doesnt sin and cannot sin because it is born of God. when john wrote this he was trying to build us up in trusting our identity as children of God and guarding against deception that says we can somehow produce a sin free lifestyle without Christ.the term commit can literally mean to produce. so it could literally say the new nature doesnt produce sin because it is born of God’s sin free nature. the nature that is born of satan can do nothing but produce sin. the answer lies in abiding in Christ, the one who never sins.
I believe 1 john 3:9 means that the inward man(the spirit and soul) of a christian doesn’t sin. The Apostle Paul said “it is no longer i that sins but sin dwelling in me(body).”
Obviously some Christians in their body have lusted after things but the inner man and no man can serve two masters.
Kyle, I agree that the new/inner man does not sin and that it is the point of this verse. However, our body in itself does not sin but the sin capacity which resides in the body.
when saved we received a new nature of God we still have the old sin nature like we had only before salvation the new nature cannot sin so if we walk according to the new we do not sin if we walk according to the old nature we sin if there is no evidence of the new in a persons life we probably are not saved so we cannot sin as a way of life without a broken pattern of sin if we have the new nature
Thanks Mike.
Does this verse have anything to do with Ephesians 1:13? If the Holy Spirit SEALS the purchased posession (the soul and spirit), isn’t this what I John 3:9 referring to? I know the Word is of no private interpretation but it seems to me that once the soul and spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit that that is the part of man that sin can never touch, so in essence, that is the seed that never sins.
Chuck, from a strictly interpretative viewpoint, there is no direct correlation between Ep 1:13 and this passage. From a systematic point of view, it is true that the Holy Spirit seals the believer from the point of salvation until the eternal state.
The writer or those who commented have all missed John's truth in his statement…He is simply saying (as the Greek shows) that a true Christian does not continue to llive a habitual, persistent life of sin….finding sin to be a daily attraction…Chapters one and two leave us with no other concklusion…To say that the body sins but not our spirit is just old heresy of the Nostics in the 1st and 2nd centuries and ff…..(that, no doubt, John at the time was exposing)…….
Leo, I agree that First John argues against incipient gnosticism (not gnosticism, which did not begin until the second century).
I used to hold the simple aktionsart of the present tense here as you do but the context seems to argue otherwise, that is, a aoristic present tense that argues for an ongoing state rather than individual actions of sin. Therefore, the question is not present linear aktionsart but what kind of present it is.
here is the just of it, many Christians today ask each other" what to you believe?" the fact is a true follower of Jesus isn't afforded the option of what he or she believes. We must believe what Jesus said, Now when I say Jesus I conceder every word of scripture as Jesus Literally, hence The word became flesh, and it will never pass away. If Jesus says anyone born of God can not sin, well He said it and I have to believe it, and you must understand Jesus does not contradict Himself, so we just have to fit it in. The only way to do that is to believe They were predestined before time began to be holy and blameless in His sight. not my sight or your sight but in his sight, Praise God He is the only one who matters.Fokes Jesus did what he said He did, when He said he took away all your sin, He did. Now how can you still have sin if He took it and nailed it to the cross. Forgivness is not on a payment plan
Plumbob, I suggest you continue to read the successive studies on this verse.
Secondly, Jesus did not say this but the Holy Spirit through the apostle John.
Thirdly, go to my study on 1 Jn 1:8 where the verse says that if anyone clams not to sin is self-deceived: http://versebyversecommentary.com/1-john/1-john-18/
This passage says it is our new nature that does not sin, not that we cannot sin in our sin capacity (old nature).
Well Grant if YOU say so!!! first of all Jesus and the Holy Spirit ARE ONE. Jesus I.E. (the Holy Spirit through Paul says in 1st John2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. Second in 1st Corinthians 4:6 Jesus says this to you and me: Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.Third He tells us this through Paul in 2nd Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. I'm not going to arguee with you about it so Lets just let God be true and every man a liar. BTW I never said I was without sin, Jesus Did, The moment i heard the Gospel of my salvation, and believed, God looked at me and in His Eyes what He say was His Son, in which there is no sin. "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty
Plumbob, if you are without sin, Why must you receive a new glorified body to enter into heaven? To be clear, are you saying, AFTER your salvation, you have not committed ONE sin? Why did the apostle Paul say AFTER his salvation, that he still struggled with his sin nature, knowing what to do as right, but still doing contrary? You are aware of the word Sanctification. A process where the believer walks towards perfection, which will only occur the day we stand in the presence of Jesus and receive our new glorified bodies,and then we will be presented to Jesus as His bride WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE. Right now, NO man or woman walking this world is without spot or wrinkle. Jesus said concerning your sin, that it no longer has DOMINION over you. It no longer rules your life, Nowhere does Jesus say, After Salvation you are Sinless. Too many examples in the Bible to contradict that. Noah got drunk after the flood. King David. Jeremiah, Peter denying Christ, Abraham lied, etc. All these men were saved through faith, yet continued to sin, but you do not? If believers no longer sin, who is John speaking to in 1 John 1:9, is that verse only to the unsaved? Why did King David have to ask God to restore the JOY of his salvation? Your view point contradicts everything the Bible teaches and you Know that you have sinned since your salvation. Paul battled between his spirit and his flesh, but you don't?
David, if you will re read my previous post I never said I was without sin, I am completely aware of my sin And you and I will continue to sin, but I must believe THE WAY of the holy word of my saviour's holy spirit while speaking through JOHN, I'm not going to add to it or take away from it as many do. I just read it and believe it. and this is what I believe. JOHN 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested , that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin , because he is born of God.
David the word of God does not contradict itself, And I dare not contradict His word, and I would suggest you not either. I Love you in truth brother
Interesting discussion.
It is worth asking the question, 'What part of the Born Again Christian is born again?"
Jesus tells us in John 3:5-8 " "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."
Notice the words, "Spirit gives birth to spirit". He doesn't say, "Spirit gives birth to the mind" or "Spirit gives birth to the soul" or Spirit gives birth to body" He says Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Follow through for a moment on one of the main messages of the book of Hebrews:
Notice in each of the following verses the use of the word "perfect" and notice the tenses used. Check the tenses out in the Greek, particularly Hebrews 10:14 "has perfected forever" and Hebrews 12:22 "have come".
Hebrews 7:19 “for the law made nothing perfect;”
Hebrews 9:9 gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
Hebrews 10:11-14 every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come…. to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel
You have come to the Spirits of Just men made perfect.
What is perfection? He tells us in Hebrews 10:11: the law and sacrifices could not… "take away sins". Perfection is the removal of sin. Where the perfection is that Jesus acquired for us through the washing of His blood there is no sin.
The removal of sin is the essence and effect of the Gospel. It is what Jesus came to do.
John said of Jesus in John 1:29, "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."
Rom 11:27 "this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
Our spirit, and our spirit only, is the "new creation or the "new man".
Listen to what Ephesians 4:24 says about our new nature (I give it to you in the Amplified and the New King James):
Ephesians 4:24 "the new nature (the regenerate self) is created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness." AMP
Eph 4:24 "the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness"NKJV
This New man, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, is a "New Creation, old things have passed away and all things have become new, and all things are of God"
In Romans 7:14-25 Paul deals with the apparent dichotomy between the inner man and the flesh nature. The inner man, our regenerated spirit, wants to do good, delights in the law of God, pleases God, and according to Ephesians 4:24 is created in the Image of God in true righteousness and holiness. But in the flesh (in the sin nature) no good thing dwells. He says when I (his inner man) wants to do good, evil is present WITH HIM. He cries out. "Who shall deliver me from this body of death! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord"
Notice this same idea of the Body of death used in Col 2:11-15. But notice what happened to it. Notice the deliverance of Christ that Paul cried out for in Romans 7.
Col 2:11-15 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
There you have it again. Our sins are taken away. The body of the sins of the flesh has been removed from us in the circumcision of Christ. "Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." He was cut off for the sins of the world. And when He was cut off (circumcised) the Body of our sins was cut off of us (we were circumcised)
So where are we now then.
Our flesh nature has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and has been cut off of us in the Circumcision of Christ. We have been forgiven all trespasses. The record against us has been blotted out by Christ's blood. Rom 4:7-8 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
But that is not all:
Our Spirit has been perfected. It is a brand new Creation made in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Jesus has joined himself to our Spirit and we are now one spirit with him. Jesus is the seed, the Living Word of God, by which we are born again and that remains in us. His perfect righteousness now lives in us in our born again Spirit. And have, indeed come to the spirits of just (and justified) men made perfect . Jesus This is our new identity. This is who we are in Christ.
This is why John would say in 1 John 3:9 "that which is born of God cannot sin, because His seed remains in Him.
Our re-created spirit is born again and cannot sin because it is born of God.
The Bible translations that add to the Greek text in this passage are based on a lack of understanding of the new creation and the regeneration of our spirit. Let the Greek say what it says in 1 John 3:9 simply and plainly. There is no need to add anything in because it is exactly as the Greek text says it.
Excellent exposition Michael.Thank you
It is no wonder we have hundreds of religions and millions of diverse opinions regarding the Scriptures … just review the above. The greek tense in I John 3:9 simply states that "HE THAT IS BORN OF GOD CANNOT GO ON SINNING." It is a common practice for people to protect their doctrine at the expense of the Scripture. The Christian wills not to sin … but he can sin and often does even to the soul's everlasting destruction. God does not overlook sin in anyone. "THE SOUL THAT SINNETH, IT SHALL DIE" … EXCEDPT YE REPENT YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.
Whisp, evidently you do not know enought Greek to know about the aoristic present.
I love the responses and the commentary and i think when one born of God sins, he is acting not out of his true nature(the God nature ) but acting outside his will.
If we do not sin after salvation why does it say the if we confess our sin he is just and willing to forgive our sins: 1 John 1:9 KJV- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It also says that we aren’t to look on the outward man but to the inward heart of man is renewed day by day: 2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV-for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. It also says in 2Corinthians 5:7 we walk by faith not by sight. That doesn’t mean that because a person through his filthy dirty flesh commit sin he is not saved. True faith comes from within hence walking not by sight. Paul also wrestled with sin in these next few verses keep in mind he was already converted(born again) : Romans 7:14-25 KJV for we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
You see its that simple 1John 3:9 is simply saying that we that are born of God cannot sin. Our soul (spirit) is born again and cannot sin. Our outward man in the fleshly sense is still prone to sin hence the war that the Apostle Paul’s battle with his fleshy sinful body.
According to Strongs the word committeth in 1 John3:9 is poy eh I which means not even once. It is different to the word prazzo which means practice. Throughout 1 John 3 the word poy eh o is used not pras so
The modern versions have incorrectly used "Does not practice" in verse 9. The word "poy eh o" is used which means not even one time. It cannot be interpreted to mean "make a practice" of sin.The Greek word prasso has the idea of committing sin habitually. The correct understanding is that He that is born of God cannot sin even once. The spirit man or new man/ nature cannot sin even once.
Kenneth, thanks for your scholarly contribution to this passage.
Good exegesis of 1 John 3:9. Glad to hear how those agree that these Modern Versions have destroyed the meaning of this verse.
(Michael or Whomever else)
If our spirits are regarded as sanctfied and perfect after the salvation of Christ, then would that not mean that one who is saved is always saved?
If one is always saved after the experience of redemption, then why does 2 Peter 2 state that the individual who escapes darkness through the knowledge of Jesus Christ and then returns to the darkness (paraphrasing), will have a worst ending in eternal darkness, than if he had never converted.
Escaping the pollutions of this world through the knowledge of Jesus Christ would seem to qualify as salvation, would it not?
Bori, if you truly want an answer to that question. Read my studies on 2 Peter 2.
Thank all for the love manifest here. I have enjoyed the teachings, when i was searching for answers to this particular verse, i asked the Spirit to lead me. Thank you Michael for studing God's word, i have learnt alot from you. My questions have been answered.
God bless you richly and everyone for your wonderful insight in His Word.
Could you explain what it mean by once saved is always saved, thanks.