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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: One born of God cannot sin? |
Bible Note: Again, the answer is tied to the two natures as I said before. We as the whole person consisting of both the new nature and the old nature can and do commit sin. And we are responsible to God for the sin that we (our will) allows into our lives. Perhaps the confusion lies with a misunderstanding that when we become believers (are born again) the old nature is not regenerated or made new and is still with us. God gives us a completely new nature wherein, I believe, the Holy Spirit resides. When the bible speaks of us being crucified with Christ on the cross, it does not mean that our old sinfull nature has been eradicated, but that God judged the old nature with its sin as being totally incapable of righteousness and of no use to Him whatsoever! Thus the necessity for the new birth in and through faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross. He paid the full penalty for all sin that we could not possibly even begin to pay. I hope this helps. M. J. Head |