"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 (KJV)
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πΏ Explanation:
This verse from 1 John 3:9 can sound confusing at first glance, as it seems to say that a true Christian cannot sin. However, the original Greek and the context of John's writing reveal a deeper meaning.
The Greek verb translated as "commit" (ΟΞΏΞΉΞ΅αΏ, poiei) actually implies "to practice continually" or "to make a habit of." Therefore, the verse is not claiming that believers are incapable of ever sinning, but that those who are truly born of God — that is, regenerated by the Holy Spirit — do not live in continuous, unrepentant sin.
John is contrasting two lifestyles:
The one born of God shows evidence of a transformed heart, a new nature that resists sin and seeks righteousness.
The one not born of God lives habitually in sin, showing no change or remorse.
When it says "his seed remaineth in him," that refers to God's divine nature or the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer. This inner presence restrains the believer from comfortably continuing in sin.
