Question:
“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). Does John mean that if a person is born of God, they cannot sin, and if they do sin, is it a proof that they never were born of God? Is it always true that the one born again “sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18)?
Answer:
It is the purpose that God regards, the principle that actuates and moves the soul. He who is born of God has one purpose. He may fall and sin, but as long as he holds unswervingly to that purpose, God counts him His. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Understand “cannot” in the sense of “will not,” as in the oft-quoted expression, “Look you, what I will not, that I cannot do,” or as in Luke 14:20, “And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come;” not that it was a physical impossibility, but that there was no desire. And so he that is born of God does not commit sin; that is not his purpose, his business. He cannot because he will not. The Syriac has it as, “doth not practice sin; that is not his life-work. There is always the danger of poor mortals’ sinning, yet God’s power can keep one from sin. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not [or that ye may not sin]. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2:1).
