Sin and the Child of God

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and (A)sin is lawlessness. And you know (B)that He was manifested (C)to take away our sins, and (D)in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. (E)He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, (F)that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been (G)born of God does not sin, for (H)His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love(I)

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Read full chapter

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will]. You know that He appeared [in visible form as a man] in order to take away sins; and in Him there is [absolutely] no sin [for He has neither the sin nature nor has He committed sin or acts worthy of blame]. No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him. Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because [a]God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] [b]love his [believing] brother.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:9 I.e. in human terms, God’s seed is like a divine “genetic code” which is passed on to His children and produces in them the desire to live in a way which pleases Him.
  2. 1 John 3:10 See note 2:10.

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.(A) But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.(B) And in him is no sin.(C) No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.(D) No one who continues to sin has either seen him(E) or known him.(F)

Dear children,(G) do not let anyone lead you astray.(H) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.(I) The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,(J) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God(K) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.(L) No one who is born of God(M) will continue to sin,(N) because God’s seed(O) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God(P) are and who the children of the devil(Q) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love(R) their brother and sister.(S)

Read full chapter