Comparing I John 1:8-10 with I John 3:6-9

The main issue in the aforementioned verses is sin. When we read these verses, it appears that the apostle John contradicts himself. Let’s examine them to find out what’s going on.

In I John 1:8-10 we read, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse to us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Now, in I John 3:6-9 we read, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin (italics added). Whoever sins has neither seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

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.       

Whoever is born of God does not sin (italics added), for His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin (italics added) because he has been born of God.”

The first set of verses (I John 1:8-10) clearly tell us that we as believers do sin, and that’s why I John 2:1-2 says…“that if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (or satisfaction) for our sins…

Jesus delivered us from the power and penalty of sin forever, but currently not it’s presence. Sin does continue to operate in our mortal flesh which has yet to experience it’s redemption. We’ll experience that when Jesus returns for his bride, the church and our bodies will be changed from mortal to immortal (I Corinthians 15:51-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

But, in the second set of verses, we read that whoever abides in Him-that is in Christ does not sin. Which set of verses are true? Verse nine in particular by itself is implicit, meaning by it’s implication would purport one to believe that Christians do not and can not sin. That is not what the verse is saying at all. To define verse nine, we must connect it with verse seven which is an explicit verse – a verse that is very clear with no ambiguity. Verse nine of I John 3 is ambiguous when it stands alone.

Verse seven of I John 3 says, “ He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

The key word here is “practice”, from the Greek word prasso. To practice something requires continuous, habitual action. The apostle John is comparing those that are saved or righteous who practice righteousness verses those that are wicked  who practice wickedness. Verse nine does not mean that we do not sin; we do.  What it has  to mean is that believers do not practice sin as a way of life. They’re not engaged in sin as they were prior to their conversion, and they can not habitually sin, because God’s seed- the Holy Spirit remain (abides, dwells, lives) in them. The Spirit of the living God provides a checks and balance system within the believer to prevent him/her to engage in habitual sinful behavior; and when we sin we know we must confess our sins to the Lord (I John 1:9). That inward faculty will drive us to repentance continually and keep us pure.

These verses provide a litmus test for anyone to know whether they’re truly born again or not. Do you  endeavor to practice righteous living or unholy living? No one can have it both ways!

We must remember and accept that the fact that sin has no more dominion over us because we’re free from it (Romans 6:12). We’re no longer slaves to it.

                                                        

                                                        In conclusion

We must always remember to interpret implicit passages in light of the explicit ones. In this case, we interpret  I John 3:6a and vs. 9 (The implicit)  in light of I John 3:7 along with I John 1:8-10 (The explicit). When we do this, we do not run into error. This is proper hermeneutics.

A person who claims to know God and sins habitually is a liar. And as the scripture say the truth is not in them (I John 1:8); Explicitly speaking, that type of person is not saved.