"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.
2007-12-27 11:44:44 · 10 answers · asked by NJ Gold 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you read the passage in a different translation where the verb tenses of the words are taken into account it becomes more clear what the meaning is.
ESV 1 John 3:9 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.
A born again Christian cannot continue on in a lifestyle of known sin because the Spirit of God will bring conviction upon the person and turn them away from that practice. When you read it in the KJV it sounds like a person never sins if they are born again because the Greek verbs have not been translated to take into account that they represent a continuing action and not a one time action. Obviously that isn't the case because then this verse would contradict an earlier portion of this letter.
KJV 1 John 1:8 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.
2007-12-27 12:30:50 · answer #1 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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.
He was talking about Jesus Christ..because Jesus was the son of God he carried his seed and thus was perfect, without sin, much as Adam and Eve were in the beginning.
2007-12-27 12:10:15 · answer #2 · answered by ~Niecey~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing I can figure is that we are in Christ, and He has no sin.
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.
1 John 3:9 (New King James Version)
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.
2007-12-27 12:17:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tense of the verb translated commit indicates that the action is continuing.
So basically a believer does not continue to live a sinful lifestyle.
It does not mean a one time sin or a struggle with a particular sin.
Look earlier in the chapter
1 John3
1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
and earlier in the book:
1John 1
8If 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.
and here:
Provervs 24
16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
So if you fall into sin confess it, get up and keep keep on walking.
2007-12-27 12:04:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To my understanding 1 John 3:9 speaks of----no one can make sin his way of life if God is in him. God cannot exist in one who practices sin.
2007-12-27 12:07:20 · answer #5 · answered by HappyCamper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a reference of being Born in of the Spirit, and that's a term that is misrepresented these days.
To get a sense of the process and how to go through that genuine transformation, read this free resouce. As John 3:9 suggests, it is possible to go through a complete transformation.
2007-12-27 12:05:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always read a verse IN CONTEXT. The Bible says in other places that to say you have NO sin is to be a liar...so the explanation is somewhere in between.
Obviously we still sin. Compare scripture with scripture to see if sin is even the Issue today.....or is it placing your trust in the SIN BEARER?
2007-12-27 11:54:26 · answer #7 · answered by goinupru 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
his seed remaineth in him. Our souls are sealed till the day of redemption (Paul). Our souls, that cannot sin, being sealed, constantly fight a battle with the corrupt body and nature that we all have. (It is no longer I that sin, but the flesh). The Holy Ghost, within us, that is the sealer of the soul, the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, is our lead and guide in combatting sin while we remain in a corrupt body. Sin is a word denoting rebellion against God and the soul is sealed against that till the day of redemption.
2016-06-18 16:59:20 · answer #8 · answered by glen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus didn't sin because he *couldn't* sin.
Which hardly seems fair.
2007-12-27 11:49:39 · answer #9 · answered by Bedel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
see http://www.bcbsr.com/books/1jn3_9.html
2007-12-27 12:27:42 · answer #10 · answered by Steve Amato 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋