1 John 3:9

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations of 1 John 3:9

Whosoeuer is borne of God, doth not commit sinne: for his seede remaineth in him, and he cannot sinne, because he is borne of God.
- King James Version (1611) - Compare to scan of original 1 John chapter 3

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.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.
- American Standard Version (1901)

Anyone who is a child of God does no sin, because he still has God's seed in him; he is not able to be a sinner, because God is his Father.
- Basic English Bible

Whoever has been begotten of God does not practise sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God.
- Darby Bible

Whosoever is born of God, commmitteth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God.
- Douay Rheims Bible

Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- Webster's Bible

No one who is a child of God is habitually guilty of sin. A God-given germ of life remains in him, and he cannot habitually sin--because he is a child of God.
- Weymouth Bible

Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.
- World English Bible

Ech man that is borun of God, doith not synne; for the seed of God dwellith in hym, and he may not do synne, for he is borun of God.
- Wycliffe Bible

every one who hath been begotten of God, sin he doth not, because his seed in him doth remain, and he is not able to sin, because of God he hath been begotten.
- Youngs Literal Bible

Chris's comment on 2020-12-09 22:19:07:

Once again, thank you for your great testimony Gary & all that you've shared here. Indeed, the incomprehensible wonder of it all: that God should choose us to be IN HIM even before the foundation of the World, to be holy creatures & without blame before Him; & also being predestined unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto Himself, Ephesians 1:4,5. Thus, as His children, so greatly blessed to have His Spirit indwell us, we can only but cry out "Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant (as serving under the Law that brought judgement & death), but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:6,7. What a privilege we have to be called the children of God & what the full import of that will be when we all stand together in that coming day, in great joy before His Glory having full understanding & in perfect love. We can hardly restrain ourselves awaiting that time (1 Corinthians 2:9,10).

And yet, in the flesh, we often fail to restrain ourselves from sin. Even knowing to do good, but not following through with it, it becomes sin to us (James 4:17). We could cry out with the apostle, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?" What a beautiful & correct answer: it's only possible "through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 7:24,25). It's by Jesus' Blood He cleanses us, by His Spirit He delivers us, & by His Promise He receives us as His children, made worthy to share in His Glory.

Unworthy as we might feel to receive any crown or prize, as the work of Grace in us has been all from Him & of Him, yet as the apostle ran his earthly race, he only saw the prize that lay before him that kept him alert, motivated & on proper course: the prize of his "high calling OF God IN Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14): ultimately to be in the Lord's Presence, finding full rest from his manifold temptations & difficult labours.

Every blessing to you & to Richard - thanks for popping by.

Richard in Christ's comment on 2020-12-09 10:20:54:

Hello Gary and Chris,

Just wanted to let you know that I very much enjoyed reading all of your posts, both of you, between one another in this thread.

God Bless you my brothers in Christ.

Gary's comment on 2020-12-09 05:49:03:

Chris, thanks again for your comments! Excellent example from 1 Corinthians chapter five!

I trusted Jesus at about eight years of age. I was well aware of his presence well before that.

Like most believers, I accepted things of the world as normal and acceptable. Things that most Christians don't see anything wrong with, so they embrace them, without even thinking or realizing that these things are things we should not embrace!

Little things, like listening to pop music!

Who doesn't listen to pop music, right?

But it's total garbage!

It sings about sinful actions, and makes them all sound so natural and normal.

But the natural man is flawed by sin!!! So while it's natural, even normal, it's not acceptable to God, and therefore something believers should avoid!

It all starts little. Baby steps in the wrong direction, fast forward fifty years, and it's amazing I wasn't already turned over to Satan for my flesh to be destroyed! ( No, I wasn't doing that, but my sins were pretty horrible nonetheless !)

I struggled. God was patient!

Things got very bad. My life and marriage nearly ruined.

Sins we commit, don't just hurt us, but they hurt others as well, and they hurt our mission for why we are even here!

All things are created by him and for him!

It DOES MATTER that we resist temptation!!!

Our salvation is secure, but there are still consequences for sinning!!!!

Even though it's not our spirits that are sinning, but our flesh, and even though it's not derailing our salvation, it's having consequences and may well prevent others we were supposed to reach for Christ, from ever coming to be his child!

I don't want to be that guy!!!

I want my Savior to be pleased with my actions in my flesh.

I'm not trying to win a prize, or salvation.

I already have that.

He's already given me the perfect spirit that doesn't sin and cannot be flawed, and unrevokable salvation, kept by his power!

I just want to honor him, and love him for making me his child!

Chris's comment on 2020-12-08 23:22:07:

Thanks again Gary - yes, we're on the 'same page' on this very important matter.

Just to clarify what I wrote, that puzzled you: I was thinking of the believer, who, in his war against the enticements of his flesh, simply cannot find the spiritual fortitude & faith in God to be an overcomer. Even his spiritual armour appears weak & useless when in confrontation. Rather than persisting in the battle (for it is a very long & relentless battle that we fight), he continues to weaken, giving further & further into sin, when finally he consoles himself by stating that all cannot be lost as he is still saved & secure through Christ.

My statement may have conveyed the thought that this sinning believer had a defective understanding of his salvation & its permanence. Rather, I hoped that it conveyed, that the sinning believer actually fully trusted in the security of his salvation however that by continuing to sin in the flesh, he believed it would not have an effect on his salvation. I hope this clarifies my wording.

But of course, that type of understanding is very wrong. God's judgement will come upon him if he chooses to surrender in the battle, even though all of Heaven's resources are at his disposal. Indeed, Paul's painful & stern warning came to those who sinned in such manner (with the example of fornication in the Church): 1 Corinthians chapter 5, where such were to be cast back into Satan's domain that the flesh may be destroyed, so that the spirit might one day be saved. (Also seen in 1 Corinthians 11:27).

As you said, sin will come to the believer, but as a Spirit-filled person, he deals with it & certainly never lets it take control, rather allowing the Spirit to minister God's Grace for forgiveness & healing.

Gary's comment on 2020-12-08 20:06:10:

Thanks for your comments and sharing of the scripture! Sounds as though we are in agreement about the subject of salvation and the change that takes place the instant that we believe.

However, your following comment I found to be somewhat puzzling:

"Many just give up & submit to the flesh & continue to do so, erroneously believing that "my salvation & eternity are secure through this great transaction".

It is very easy to take this attitude regarding our actions in the flesh, knowing that salvation cannot be lost, it seems much easier to give in to the sinful desires than to stand up against them out of love, honor and obedience to God!

It was pretty much my attitude for the first 50 years or so of my Christianity!

But while I erred in attitude, I was not "erroneous" in my belief that my salvation was secured by the Holy Spirit of God!

God sees us as the new incorruptible spirit he creates with the Spirit of Christ inside us, when he makes us born again!

He no longer sees us as lost sinners with flawed flesh and a dead spirit!

Because his Spirit remains inside of us, we are holy, righteous, incapable of sinning, and we are incorruptible!

If God did not do it this way, making us with an incorruptible new spirit, it would take but one sin to cause us to be lost again, forever!

Because as the scripture explains in Hebrews chapter 6, if a person who is saved could actually lose his salvation by sinning, it would be impossible to save us again! Pointing out once again that it's the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus that covers our debt, FOREVER, once and for eternity!

Thank God our salvation is not dependent upon our sinless walk, because if sin could derail salvation, it would only take one sin!!!

Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies!

I will say this: If a person has truly trusted in Jesus, they are born again.

A born again Christian sins.

That is inevitable.

But a born again Christian can never lose his salvation!

Chris's comment on 2020-12-08 14:05:02:

Thank you Gary for that great & accurate declaration of a believer's condition & standing before God.

Galatians 5:16-18: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

The war continually rages between our renewed (born again) spirits & the appeal of carnal flesh. Many just give up & submit to the flesh & continue to do so, erroneously believing that "my salvation & eternity are secure through this great transaction".

Romans 8:8-10: "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

The Word is clear: as those born again from above, we live according to direction & power of the Holy Spirit & not inclined towards the appeal of the flesh. Though our bodies are corrupt & decaying because of the effects of sin, one day they too will be renewed in that great Translation Day, in which both spirit & the incorruptible body will be taken away to enjoy eternity with the LORD & His Christ.

Yes, Paul struggled with the pull by the spirit & the flesh, & he called it "a war" between his members (Romans chapter 7). If you were referring to the same brother as I'm thinking of, he also said that Paul's struggle happened when he was still bound in his old nature (as an unregenerate Jew), not having Christ's Spirit. But that chapter doesn't suggest that at all, showing the struggle that exists, indeed must be real & constant, in every believer who is still on this Earth & having the Spirit of Christ in him. Saved sinners are not exempt.

Gary's comment on 2020-12-08 08:38:47:

I see so many comments on here. One that really disturbed me was from Bro. D: His saying "if u still sin; your heart is not right.!"

Really? Guess Paul's heart was not right, because he said that he sinned!

All of this born of God stuff in 1st John completely ties together with what Jesus said about being born again!

Jesus said being born again was a must, and the only way we could enter heaven!

Then he told us on down in the same chapter of John three how to be born again!

By believing in him!

If you do, you will never die and you have everlasting life!

It changes you.

You are no longer a dead spirit and flawed flesh, but a brand new spirit that cannot sin!!!

Because you are born of God and his incorruptible seed remains in you !!!

You are incorruptible!!

Perfect!

Holy!

Righteous!

But your old flesh is still flawed!!!

But it no longer counts against you in regard to eternity and your standing with God!!!

But your flesh is still going to die!

It's still desiring to sin!

Still needing to be controlled by you!!!

And this is why Jesus says if we love him, to keep his commandments!

Our spirits cannot sin when we belong to Jesus!

But our flesh can and does!

God tells us to die to the sinful desires of our flesh!

Daily!!!

Our righteousness can never be taken away!

Our salvation can never be lost !!!

Because it is Jesus' righteousness that we have now, not because we stopped sinning, but because he made us born again new spirits that cannot sin, or ever be corrupted like the first spirit was!!!

All because of Jesus!!!!

Our spirit in his Spirit!

We are no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth inside of us! If we don't have the Spirit of Christ inside of us, then we aren't his!!!

Praising the Lord Jesus Christ for giving us his righteousness, and not leaving our salvation subject to failure again by our actions!!!

Salvation is truly a free gift by grace thru faith in Jesus! Guaranteed unloseable, by God.

Alex's comment on 2020-09-17 05:58:57:

Comments by Alex about Jesus saying he came to fulfill the law.Sin is the trangression of the law. But b/c of his death we will be bornagain of an incorriptible seed, even by the word of God,When a seed dies it multiplies thus b/c of his death he will be multiplied as the stars of heaven. Everybody is gonna get a seed, everybody is gona get a measure of faith. Resulting in Birth and them that ARE BORN OF GOD CANNOT SIN, THATS HOW HE WILL FULFILL THE LAW BY HIS SEED THAT IS GONNA REMAIN IN US BRINGING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD which is Christ in us, His seed is gona result in a birth of Christ in US, making it impossible to sin thus fulfilling the LAW.Sin is the trangression of the law, But if we cannot sin then the law is fulfilled. Thats what he is talking bout when he said he came to fulfill the Law. Its simply about Christ in us making it impossible to sin from our hearts.

Kevin's comment on 2015-05-23 11:11:42:

I was reading scripture in first john and he says,My little children I write this to you,that you sin not. He says it right there that we as gods children do not sin. Then he says if any man does sin we have an advocate with the father the lord Jesus christ. He is talking about unbelievers. And I will also say that confession of sins is not for believers.we confess our sins when we come to Christ and he washes of ALL unrighteousness and then he imputes his rightiosness.There was gnostics in that church and john was correcting that false doctrine to them.we are dead to the law of sin and of death.we have been freed from sin and we are dead to the law.He who commits sin is of the devil The unbeliever who rejects Christ. He that does righteousness is righteous. He who receives that form of doctrine that was delivered to us by the apostles.us believers. We are not sinners,we were sinners.We are THE RIGHTIOUSNESS OF GOD.

James's comment on 2015-05-23 09:11:51:

There seems, to be a congregation of Job 's friends here, God does allow the unjust to prosper, the wicked do increase, and we do sin. The just do get chastised and we do suffer tribulations as the church. However, the Blood Covers, and God judges through righteousness as He determines, it is the final judgement that counts, as Paul said He is without sin, yet did he not send Steven off to glory?

Don's comment on 2015-02-04 07:56:28:

I John 3:9 means that a person who is born of God cannot sin as he has the new nature and is a new creation II Cor. 5:17 According to I Cor. 15:45-49 tells us that their are two "men " in us--the natural Adamic and the spiritual Lord from heaven and the one that cannot sin is the second from heaven. Paul gives this same information in Romans 7 of the two natures abiding in all born again Christians and the flesh is the one that sins and the spiritual sins not as 1 John 3:9 plainly teaches.

kaybaba's comment on 2014-10-23 08:39:00:

hello...what we are talking about here 1john3vs9 must be properly understood.we must know that the real us is the man inside.THE ONE OUTSIDE THAT WE CAN SEE IS NOT US.The man inside cannot sin or make practice of sin once he has accepted Jesus as his lord and personal savior.That is the man God speaks to,he speaks to our spirit man,the real us. Though some of us are not sensitive enough to hear him,cos we have allowed the outward man to dominate us.The inward man and HIS house the outward man are always at war with each other.Devil takes advantage of this and cause those that have not allowed the word of God to richly dwell in them to do things that they are not and make them believe that is who they are.REMEMBER THAT SCRIPTURES DID NOT SAY THAT OUR PHYSICAL BODIES IS BORN OF GOD.

Sharlotte's comment on 2013-12-06 05:13:21:

the seed is the holy ghost which is God spirit...children of the flesh these are not the childeren of God but those with the holy spirit they are the sons of God. our promise is the holyghost which is the seed.....be blessed by revelation from God...

david's comment on 2013-10-01 02:01:36:

when a person is born again or has accepted Lord Jesus as his personal saviour thus he has been washed by the word of God which is the seed and that means God comes first in everything he is doing and the word of God is rooted in him it really is impossible for that person to sin for the word of God which is the seed is planted in him and works in him.

Bro. D's comment on 2013-06-09 09:24:44:

Sorry Harold, anyone can sin if they CHOOSE to! Your comment is not correct..! No excuses for sin; God keeps those who want to be kept...if u still sin; your heart is not right.!

Harold's comment on 2013-05-27 17:25:23:

In reading 1John 3:9 we need to define "sin".
Sin is NOT referring to our physical failings.
Instead, it's transgression of the law, 1John 3:4.

But we're NOT under the law, Rom 8:2, Rom 10:4, Gal 5:18. Hence believers CANNOT be charged with this sin.

Sin is unrighteousness, 1John 5:17.
But a believer's faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5. Hence we CANNOT be charged with this sin.

Sin is unbelief in Jesus, John 16:9.
Believers CANNOT be charged with this sin.

So, as believers, we CANNOT sin.

AFENI MAKEBE NELSON!'s comment on 2013-03-07 17:02:02:

AMEN AND HALLELUJAH!

Afeni Makebe Nelson's comment on 2012-09-19 12:45:16:

HI! THANK YOU, ALL who mentioned by the Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. May I realize that me who Is all brand new do not commit sins, venial and not venial. I will never commit sins, transgressions and evil in the new me, myself and I, because we did not sin and are not going to sin, by us being brand new incorruptible infinite creatures! KINDEST REGARDS, Afeni! I will not ever let the me, who sins interfere with the new me, who don't sin. PEACE!

Afeni M Nelson's comment on 2011-07-10 15:10:30:

A new spirit me(Afeni, etc.,) must be a spirit who didn't receive attacks, who didn't get hurt, who is not getting hurt and not going to get hurt: A new spirit me who is not going to ever receive attacks that come from The Lord, Righteous Angelic beings, righteous people, unrighteous people, Saints, sinners, the devil and others! Sincerely, Cordially, Afeni!

Afeni M Nelson's comment on 2011-07-10 15:01:50:

Hi, and Thank you for receiving my true comment and news! I hope that I have a new spirit me, who exist in this real life and true life without receiving attacks that are attacks that came and come from the Lord God, Angelic Holy, Right Elected Beings, people who are saints, Saints, people who are sinners, the devil and others; a new spirit me must be, a spirit who didn't get hurt, is not getting hurt, and will not get hurt: A brand new totally spirit me, who did not receive attacks, is not receiving attacks and is not going to receive attacks that come from God, Angelic Holy Beings, the Righteous Living Creatures, people who are saints, people who are sinners, people who are Saints, wicked people, the devil and others, with their tools, instruments, weapons, words, etc, and without words, tools, etc, and without words. They, pains, etc, plus me and myself & I, including the new me, myself and I, New Me, Myself and I, is not to and are not to harm me who is new, New Me, Myself and I.

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