Can a Child of God Sin?
By Timothy Glover
I. What it is Not: John writes, "Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, be-cause he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). Is John teaching the impossibility of a child of God to sin? In chapter 1, John wrote, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (8) and "If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us" (10). If the child of God cannot sin, we have John in an awkward position in John 1:7-9 where he speaks of the blood of Jesus cleansing the child of God from sin-sin that he cannot commit. In addition, John writes to Christians that "ye sin not" but if they do, "ye have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is the propitiation for our sins . . . " (John 2:1-2). Why tell someone not to sin if they could not sin anyway? II. What Is Its Meaning First, "doeth no sin" is a verb that denotes continuous action. The idea is that such a one does not habitually practice sin. Sin is not his/her way of life but righteousness is his/her way of life (2:29). For example, when I say, "I do not run traffic lights," I mean that I am not in the practice of running traffic lights. That does not rule out the possibility that I may do so without my knowledge or in case of an emer-gency. Second, John explains why he does not practice sin: "For his seed abideth (or remaineth) in him. The seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11, 1 Peter 1:23). David wrote, Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psa. 119:11). That seed produces a spirit-filled, spirit-guided life. As a result we are graced to become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). As we walk after the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 8, Gal.6). We may sin on occasions but because it is incompatible with who we have become and with whom we serve, we will not allow it to "reign in our mortal bodies" (Rom 6:12). We "delight after the law of God in the inner man" (Rm 7:22) and "with the mind, serve the law of God (Rm. 7:25). Third, John gives the reason, "because he is born of God."
This thought repeats the previous comment/s since one is born of "incorruptible seed, by the word of God" (1 Pet 1:23). Yet, the verb "is born" is in the perfect tense. Perfect tense denotes present condition based upon an action in the past. Thus, "is born" refers to one who remains in the relationship that began at birth. His seed remains in him. This does not describe one born in the past whose present lifestyle reflects ungodliness. Fourth, the context is supportive. Those who practice sin are not of God, but of the devil (v. 8). Jesus tells the Jews that their father is the devil (John 8:44) and explains that as a result they could not hear his words , i.e., his seed was not in them. Because of it, they did not act like God's children. Yet if the seed remains, serving sin is nonexistent.
