1 John 3:4 - 9

This morning we move from what we shall be in eons to come to the practical, where we are now and how we are to live. Here John is giving more tests for our faith by discussing sin.

So first let’s define sin, what is sin? The basic idea is to miss the mark, or bulls-eye. So technically anything short of perfection. But it can also be defined by what are called “trespasses” or crossing over a boundary or line. It includes not things we have done but things we have left undone.

Paul said  But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Ignorance is no excuse either:  “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.

Read: 1 John 3: 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 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.

This section if not understood correctly can lead to a lot of condemnation and confusion. Especially since we just learned in

 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

So here we will see specifically, how a knowledge of the original language will help gives us the intended meaning.

V 4 - Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

In the Greek it reads “all” who commits. The word for commit is poieō and means does or performs. It is a present active participle meaning continuous action.

The word lawlessness is anomia in the Greek and means transgression of the law. John then defines sin as lawlessness or transgression of the law.

V 5 - And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

The word “know” here is eidō . We looked at this word a few weeks ago. It indicates an intuitive knowledge. It is in the perfect tense meaning an act completed in the past with on going consequences. So here you knew when you were saved and you continue to know He came here, was manifested or appeared to take away sins.

...and in Him there is no sin. Isn’t it good to know that in Him there is no sin. The Greek reads literally; and sin in Him not is. (continually).

V 6 - Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Here and verse 9 are where a knowledge of Greek will really help.

Why would I say that? It’s obvious. We are all believers and most have already sinned in some way today. So how do we reconcile this verse.

We must know what the tense of the verb to “sin” is in. In both usages it is in the Present Active meaning a continuous practice of sin as opposed to the general sins that plague man.

So what if we are having a particular battle with a certain sin? . But if one takes the attitude that it doesn’t matter and he can sin with impunity, that one is in great jeopardy.

The word “known” at the end is ginōskō . The word for experiential knowledge.

V 7 - Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

He we get the positive side, you can tell who someone is by their actions.

let no one deceive you. Is a warning given in the NT 7 times. We can be deceived...

V 8 - He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

You probably guessed it sins is meaning the continual practice of sin.

Devil here is diabolos in Greek. Where we get diabolical.

Notice Jesus Christ the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Which is, Sin.

V 9 - 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.

Born of is the Greek word gennaō and the word seed is sperma. So ultimately those who are “born of God” and abide are no longer able to practice sin. So a homosexual, if really born of God will eventually stop practicing homosexuality. The drunk will by the power of the Holy Spirit stop drinking.