What does it mean that whoever is born of God does not sin (1 John 3:9)?

Answer

All human beings are born with a sinful nature. According to the Bible, as long as we live in the flesh, we will always struggle with sin (Romans 7:14-24;1 John 1:8). This applies to both unbelievers and believers. The distinction lies in the fact that believers, upon salvation, receive the Holy Spirit and are transformed into new creations “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”, (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a result, they are no longer enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6-7). The Holy Spirit enables believers to pursue righteousness. Although achieving sinless perfection in this life is unattainable, 1 John 3:9 states that “Whoever has been born of God does not sin” (NKJV).

All individuals inherit Adam’s sinful nature, and despite our best efforts, we will still fall into sin. Sin is defined in the Bible as violating God’s law “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness.”, (1 John 3:4) and rebelling against God (Deuteronomy 9:7;Joshua 1:18). Through Adam, sin entered the world, and death spread to all because all have sinned “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”, (Romans 5:12). Since we are powerless against sin by ourselves, we needed a solution to overcome sin and death. Fortunately, Jesus Christ accomplished this through Hisied on the cross and rose again. All who trust in Him for salvation receive forgiveness for their sins «Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: », (Acts 13:38). Yet, on a practical level, sin will be a reality of life until we reach heaven (Isaiah 35:8-9;1 John 3:2;Revelation 21:27). How, then, can the Bible say that whoever is born of God does not sin «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. », (1 John 3:9)?

All sin is from the devil, not God. First John 3:4–10 strongly condemns sin and warns believers that neither salvation nor grace is an excuse to sin. John had previously warned believers that anyone who claims to have no sin is lying «If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. », (1 John 1:8). Therefore, 1 John 3:9 cannot mean that whoever is born of God will be perfectly sinless. It means that whoever is born of God will no longer continue to sin willfully or habitually. Those who are born again will desire to live for God, not for the flesh. The NIV translates 1 John 3:9 this way: “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.” The Amplified Bible also brings out this meaning: “No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin.”

Believers have a different attitude toward sin than unbelievers. Those who have come to Christ for salvation have repented, realizing the grievous nature of their sin and recognizing that “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” «He thatCommitting sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8). Believers have a new desire for the good and righteous things of God. Whoever is born of God does not desire to live in sin.

Giving in to sin is no longer normal for the child of God, and the rest of 1 John 3:9 gives the reason: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” A genuine Christian has God’s “seed” and will not “deliberately, knowingly, and habitually” sin. It’s just not in his “spiritual DNA.”

Believers have the power to overcome temptation because of the Holy Spirit living within them (1 Corinthians 10:13;1 John 3:9). Children of God growing to maturity will increasingly reflect God and His character as He sanctifies them. If a person claims to be a Christian but lives in rebellion against God’s Word, pursuing a lifestyle of willful sin, that person shows that he or she is not saved.

Believers are born of God and have become new creations at salvation: “The old has gone, the new is here!” «Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. », (2 Corinthians 3:17). No longer slaves to sin, believers are continually transformed into the image of Christ. Yes, sin still impacts believers, but whoever is born of God does not sin in that they do not knowingly, deliberately, or habitually sin. They live for the things of God, and by God’s grace, “his divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” «accord».Inasmuch as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue: », (2 Peter 1:3).