What Does This Scripture Mean?

Question

1 John 3:9, John writes; 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.

Answer 1

It is difficult to understand in the English because we do not have some of the "tenses" used in the Greek language. when he says they "doth not commit sin", it is a tense that means they "do not continue to commit sin". It is not a regular lifestyle for them. The reason is that the "seed" (or spirit) of God remains in him, changing his desires and cleansing him from sin. It is because of this he "cannot sin". The Greek word (dunamai) means to have the power to not sin. I like to simple add a "space" into the verse and the meaning is clearer to me. "And he can NOT sin, because he is born of God."

Whoever is born of God does not continue to practice sin; because God's life remains in him. And he is able to not sin, because he is born of God.

Answer 2

John makes a distinction between a single sin and the practice of sinning as is shown by a comparison of 1 John 2:1 and 3:4-8 as rendered in the New World Translation.

As to the correctness of the rendering “everyone who practices sin [poi·on′ ten ha·mar·ti′an]” (1Jo 3:4), Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament (1933, Vol. VI, p. 221) says: “The present active participle (poion) means the habit of doing sin.” As to 1 John 3:6, where the phrase (oukh ha·mar·ta′nei) is used in the Greek text, the same scholar comments (p. 222): “. . does not keep on sinning.”

Thus, the faithful Christian may at some time lapse or fall into sin because of weakness or being misled, but he “does not carry on sin,” continuing to walk in it.

Answer 3

Is it the 'seed' part that is difficult to understand? This sort of refers back to the sowing the seed, such as in Matt. 13:3 where the seed refers to the message of God or a love for God.

Taken in context, 1 John 3 teaches that if we are born of God (having died to the flesh), we will follow God's law and not commit sin. If we do not do right, that is evidence of a heart that is not dedicated to God.

I think 1 John 3:18-19 sum it up well: "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence ." (NIV)

Above all, it is a reminder that just SAYING you are a believer does not MAKE you a believer.

Answer 4

We cannot commit sin from the heart, because our spirit is recreated in Christ, and joined to be one-spirit with Him. Though the flesh may commit transgression, that is not the offspring of God. The recreated spirit man is the offspring of God.

Here's the English Standard Version, which may bring out the tenses in the original Greek that someone else mentioned:

"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."

Answer 5

Christians still sin because we are born with a sinful nature. When one becomes born again by the grace of God, Christ being their Savior, then you are changed by the Holy Spirit abiding in your heart. The word 'seed' is talking about God's Word being in your heart so you know by God's reproach that committing immorality is wrong, thus, you abstain from doing them. It doesn't mean we become perfect and sin is eradicated from us; just means that we know than to commit immoral acts by God's grace and intervention in our lives. He is our guide and leader of our lives. Those who commit such acts are not of God, but of the world.

Answer 6

howdy Bruce, this is an precise theory. Scripture supplies you Gods be conscious, in the path of the Holy Spirit. We, the saints, are the church Jesus authorized, no longer homes, or courses, or sermons. as a result, we've the skill to interpret Scripture properly, by potential of the Spirit. In of ourselves, we can do no longer something. we are in a time the place we've blindly left the artwork to the Pastor to furnish The be conscious to us, and function grow to be very pleased with this arraignment. We see this attitude confirmed immediately because of the fact the government is taking an stronger and larger area of our lives, and stepping in to repair each and all the themes, and we glance very comfortable with that. We look to have forgotten what the founding fathers had to assert approximately enormous government, or maybe the reality that we've been think d to be self-ruled. yet i'm getting off course. at present day, maximum Christians are content textile to hearken to the favored, sense sturdy message from the pulpit, and by way of this, we tend to place our Bibles aside, shop for the weekly holiday to church. we've constantly been commanded to earnings to instruct ourselves authorized, yet maximum do no longer. the smart examine, is obviously, the main appropriate of the Holy Spirit, who supplies you all certainty. This may be the source we seem to for the certainty in our Bibles. that's the appreciate of God to cover a element, and the respect of kings to locate it. there became a reason Jesus spoke in parables. Be properly.

Answer 7

One who has received shaktipat, (baptized in spirit), has the spiritual seed of his Guru within him, awaking him to "God dwells within you as you", having spiritual union with God in unconditional love within their heart. He has fulfilled the law and is no more a sinner. Read 1 john 3-6, whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him , neither known him.

Answer 8

We cannot consciously sin because the Holy Spirit has come to live in the life of a born-again believer.

Many Christians are not born-again.

A born-again believer is one that has been reborn with the spirit of God placed in us.
We were born of the flesh, now we are born of the Spirit.

Answer 9

It means if you're one of God's children you can't sin because it's all part of the plan.

Answer 10

It means Jesus can't sin.