And First John also tells us “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). If you confess with your mouth but continue the “practice of sinning” that means ultimately you are not born of God.
This is tragic Itwin. You may want to check your translation here on 1st. John 3:9 but then return to the authorized version on this one. The NIV, Century Version, American Standard and so many others translations read their bias into the passage by changing the tense solution without warrant.
It is claimed that this tense requires a translation like, “whoever has been born of God does not go on sinning,” or. “does not continually sin.” The conclusion to be drawn is that though the Christian may sin somewhat (how much is never specified) he may not sin regularly or persistently.
But on all grounds, whether linguistic or exegetical, this approach is indefensible. The appeal to the present tense has long invited suspicion. No other text can be cited where the Greek present tense unaided by qualifying words can carry this kind of special treatment. When the Greek writer or speaker wished to indicate that an action was, or was not, continual, there were special words to express this. You might call them “qualifying words.” Such as when we read passages like John 3:16, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have “eternal” life. The word “eternal” qualifies the kind of life the author intended to mean.
Secondly, (back to 1st. John 3:9) we should be able to use this same treatment on any other “like” passage. For instance:, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. no one “continually” comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. This is crazy because it suggest that occasionally someone might come another way.
How about 1st. John 1:8, with the special pleading: “If we say we do not “continually” have sin, we deceive ourselves an the truth is not in us.” But if the tense explanation for 3:9 were correct, we ought to be able to say this here too.
So what are we left with. John said, “whoever has been born of God does not commit sin…” In what sense? … In the same way that Paul said it. "If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. v17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. Ro. 7:16 or “Now If I do what I will NOT to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Ro.7:20
