Bible Question (short): "If" we sin .... |
Question (full): Would someone please explain to me why 1 John 2:1 and 1 John 3:6 seem to be contrary to each other? In 1 John 2:1, John states that "if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ." Then in 1 John 3:6 he states "no one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." 1 John 2:1 implies we may continue sinning, as all Christians do, and reassures us that we have an advocate and intercessor in our Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas 1 John 3:6 teaches us that we will not continue sinning once we have accepted the Lord and walk with Him. And if and when we do stray and make mistakes He is no longer in us and we have never truly known him. I am fully aware that once we're saved we will still stumble from time to time, but will always be forgiven as taught in 1 John 2:1. So why are these two verses so contrary to each other? |