Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, because God's seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him [who is born again--who is reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; and he [who is born again] cannot habitually [live a life characterized by] sin, because he is born of God and longs to please Him. |
Subject: Who makes the rules? |
Bible Note: Dear Baptistbred, you wrote "I am not trying to be contentious, but just trying to understand. Here is another thing. 1 John 3:10 says "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are OBVIOUS" (NASB My emphasis.) I don't understand that. If they are so obvious, why is it so difficult to discern the saved and lost?" Let's look again at your friend with the besetting sin of gluttony. From the way described him, he sounds as if his profession of Christ is authentic. If we back up a bit, we see that John makes a sweeping statement that may prove to dispel the fog of seeming contradiction... 1 John 3:2,3 "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." I believe that the critical difference between the children of God and those of the Devil is not sin (though sin is important), but FAITH. Who are we looking to for our righteous standing before God? Our own works or the work of Christ on our behalf? John tells us that "...everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." This hope is in Christ alone. The reason why we desire holiness rather than sin is due to the love we bear for our Lord. Your thoughts? John Reformed |