What Does the Bible Mean When It Says, “Whoever Is Born of God Does Not Sin”?

Question:

Why does the Bible say in one place that a person born of God doesn’t sin (1 John 3:9), yet in another place it says that if we claim we don’t have sin, we’re deceiving ourselves (1 John 1:8)? Which of these statements is correct?

Answer:
To understand this, we need to look more closely at the context of the verses, their theological implications, and the broader message of the Bible on sin and the new birth.

1. 1 John 3:9 – “Whoever Is Born of God Does Not Sin”

1 John 3:9 (NKJV):
“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.”

This verse highlights the transformative power of the new birth. When a person is truly born again, their nature is changed. The “seed” of God—His divine nature—takes residence within them. This new nature does not sin, and as a result, those born of God are no longer slaves to sin. This doesn’t mean that Christians are perfect or incapable of sinning, but rather that their relationship with sin is fundamentally altered. Theologically, this is tied to the doctrine of regeneration, the act by which God imparts new spiritual life to a believer (Titus 3:5).

Theological Explanation:
Regeneration is an act of God that brings about a new nature, and as a result, Christians are empowered to resist sin. The apostle Paul teaches this

 in Romans 6:6, stating:

“We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

While Christians may still fall into sin, their new identity in Christ should lead them to turn away from it and not to live in it habitually.

2. 1 John 1:8-10 – “If We Say We Have No Sin, We Deceive Ourselves”

1 John 1:8-10 (NIV):
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Here, John emphasizes the reality of sin in the life of believers. He warns against denying sin, as this would be self-deception. Theologically, John is addressing those who may claim to have reached a state of sinlessness. This is a false claim because all people, even Christians, continue to struggle with sin (1 John 1:10). The Christian life involves an ongoing process of sanctification, where believers grow in holiness but still face temptations and sins.

Theological Explanation:
John is teaching about the importance of confession and repentance. Sanctification is the process by which a believer grows in grace and becomes more like Christ, but this process is not completed until glorification (Romans 8:29-30). Therefore, Christians will never reach a point in this life where they are sinless, but they should continually strive to live in holiness (Hebrews 12:14). The act of confessing sin acknowledges that we are still in need of God’s grace.

3. Understanding the Tension:

At first glance, these two passages might seem contradictory. However, when understood properly, they are complementary. 1 John 3:9 speaks of the new nature of a person who is truly born of God. This new nature does not willfully sin, and it has the power to overcome the desires of the flesh. However, 1 John 1:8-10 acknowledges the reality that Christians will still sin and must confess their sins to maintain fellowship with God.

Key Theological Points:

• Justification (Romans 5:1) is the declaration that a person is made right with God through faith in Christ. This is a one-time event that cannot be undone.

• Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3) is the ongoing process where a believer becomes more like Christ, growing in holiness.

• Regeneration (Titus 3:5) is the new birth, where a person is given a new nature and empowered to resist sin.

4. Practical Implications:

A person who is genuinely born again is not in bondage to sin. They may fall into sin occasionally, but their response is different from someone who is not born of God. A true believer feels conviction and desires to confess and repent of their sins, seeking to live in alignment with God’s will (Romans 7:15-25). On the other hand, someone who claims to be born again but continues to live in unrepentant sin may be deceiving themselves and has not truly experienced the new birth (James 2:14-26).

Conclusion:

The two passages (1 John 1:8-10 and 1 John 3:9) are not contradictory but are addressing different aspects of the Christian life. While believers still struggle with sin, the new birth transforms their relationship with sin. A true believer, born of God, does not habitually sin because God’s seed remains in them, and they cannot continue to live in sin. However, as they walk through life, they still need to confess and repent when they fall into sin, recognizing that they are in need of God’s grace every day.

Final Verse to Consider:
Romans 8:1 (NIV):

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
This is the assurance every believer has—while they may still sin, they are no longer condemned because of the work of Christ.