A look at 1 John 3.6

[Bruce.Leiter]

1 John 3.6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

There it is, those who abide in him do not sin. Can this be true of us?

Most translations add something close to "whosoever abides in him does not CONTINUE to sin."

I've been sinning for 66 years so I hope there is an alternate understanding of this text. There is.

By adding CONTINUE to sin you take away from John's method of writing. John uses opposites all the time, such as light/dark, sin/righteousness, life/death, etc. The solution to the apparent dilemma is known as Positional Truth. To abide "in him" is a reference to being in fellowship. When we are in fellowship and then sin, we are out of fellowship and must confess that sin to restore our fellowship with Christ.

When we are "in him" we are said to be in fellowship. We continue in fellowship until we knowingly sin. But we can not sin "in him" (in fellowship). What happens is told to us by James. Let's look at how James handles this:

1.14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires 1.15 Then when desire conceives, it give birth to sin...

When a believer is in fellowship, the only way he can sin is if he is lured out of the light of fellowship (in him) and into darkness. This is when he can sin. When he is in fellowship and abides in his new nature, he can not sin. He has to be lured out first before he is capable of sinning. So, John is saying that we can not sin at all, not that we can not keep on sinning. Note also in vs 5 where we are told that in him is no sin (not continually sinning, but sin).

I wrote a long article our here (or in some other forum) that dealt with Positional Truth. I there explain in more details what Position Truth is. For example, Paul says in Eph that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. We are not actually in heaven, but by virtue of Position Truth we enjoy all the benefits now, so much so that Paul says were ARE in heaven seated with Christ.

Yes, my New Testament professor in seminary explained the "already" and "not-yet" of the gospel. the difference can be shown in many of the inspired letters: Ephesians 1-3 versus 4-6; Colossians 1-2 versus 3-4; Romans 1-11 versus 12-16; Galatians 1-4 versus 5-6; and Hebrews 1-11 versus 12-13. We are "already" perfect in principle before the Father because of Jesus' death and resurrection but "not-yet" perfect in practice, which takes a lifelong process of the Holy Spirit to work on.

 

[JLB]

We are "already" perfect in principle before the Father because of Jesus' death and resurrection

That is an interesting perspective.


Which scripture teaches us about this perfection in principle?


John teaches us this -


Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 1 John 3:7





JLB

 

[Hopeful 2]

Yes, my New Testament professor in seminary explained the "already" and "not-yet" of the gospel. the difference can be shown in many of the inspired letters: Ephesians 1-3 versus 4-6; Colossians 1-2 versus 3-4; Romans 1-11 versus 12-16; Galatians 1-4 versus 5-6; and Hebrews 1-11 versus 12-13. We are "already" perfect in principle before the Father because of Jesus' death and resurrection but "not-yet" perfect in practice, which takes a lifelong process of the Holy Spirit to work on.

Your professor has made an accommodation for sin.
He presents what I call "the bi-polar gospel".
"Holy", but not holy.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

1 John 3.6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

There it is, those who abide in him do not sin. Can this be true of us?

Most translations add something close to "whosoever abides in him does not CONTINUE to sin."

I've been sinning for 66 years so I hope there is an alternate understanding of this text. There is.

By adding CONTINUE to sin you take away from John's method of writing. John uses opposites all the time, such as light/dark, sin/righteousness, life/death, etc. The solution to the apparent dilemma is known as Positional Truth. To abide "in him" is a reference to being in fellowship. When we are in fellowship and then sin, we are out of fellowship and must confess that sin to restore our fellowship with Christ.

When we are "in him" we are said to be in fellowship. We continue in fellowship until we knowingly sin. But we can not sin "in him" (in fellowship). What happens is told to us by James. Let's look at how James handles this:

1.14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires 1.15 Then when desire conceives, it give birth to sin...

When a believer is in fellowship, the only way he can sin is if he is lured out of the light of fellowship (in him) and into darkness. This is when he can sin. When he is in fellowship and abides in his new nature, he can not sin. He has to be lured out first before he is capable of sinning. So, John is saying that we can not sin at all, not that we can not keep on sinning. Note also in vs 5 where we are told that in him is no sin (not continually sinning, but sin).

I wrote a long article our here (or in some other forum) that dealt with Positional Truth. I there explain in more details what Position Truth is. For example, Paul says in Eph that we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. We are not actually in heaven, but by virtue of Position Truth we enjoy all the benefits now, so much so that Paul says were ARE in heaven seated with Christ.

Personally, I wouldn't use such a technical term on a public forum where all kinds of Christians are members, but that's just me. Another interpretation is possible. You're right that John primarily writes in what is "already" true for genuine Christians in God's sight, but he also acknowledges that we all sin in 1:8-10, repeating twice that we all sin:
1Jn 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Thus, this passage is clear that we also have sin in our lives that needs to be cleansed (the "not yet" of the gospel), though we are indeed perfect and sinless in God our Judge's sight because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice.

 

[Hopeful 2]

We are "already" perfect in principle before the Father because of Jesus' death and resurrection but "not-yet" perfect in practice, which takes a lifelong process of the Holy Spirit to work on.

How can that be ?
It seems that your prof. forgot about the results of a true repentance from sin, sinlessness; and about what happens to a man whose old self has been destroyed, (Rom 6:6); he is a new creature reborn of God's seed. (1 John 3:9)