• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"Whoever abides in Him does not sin..."

Text: 1 John 3:6

SINLESS PERFECTION?

There are some who teach a doctrine called “sinless perfection”. They cite the following text as basis for their teaching.

“Whoever abides in Him does not sin.
Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
1 John 3:6

1. “Whoever abides in Him does not sin”

a) At face value the text seems to suggest “sinless perfection” is being taught.

b) However, we need to look at the text carefully.

2. The approach taken

a) What does the original Greek text say?

b) How may we interpret it?

3. An exegesis of the text

a) “Everyone who is abiding in Him does not continue to sin.”

b) The text was written using the Present Tense.

c) The essential words are: –

i) “Abiding” (Participle- Present Active)

ii) “Does not sin” (Main verb: Present Indicative Active)

d) Both words are closely related.

i) The Tense of the Participle is directly related to the Main verb.

ii) The Present Tense is sometimes described as having linear significance.

iii) That means the person does not sin habitually.

iv) The person does not sin wantonly or indiscriminately because he is abiding in Christ.

e) The text does not suggest that there would be no more sinning.

i) John had already said we cannot deny sin.

ii) The sin problem would always be there (1 John 1:7-9).

f) The Apostle wrote about how sin must not be allowed to reign (Romans 6:12-18).

i) John’s wording may be different.

ii) But what he has written is similar to what Paul taught.