“Becoming What We Already Are: 1 John 3–4” Post 2 of 4

Sin, Lawlessness, and the Seed of God (1 John 3:4–10)

This section contains some of the most challenging statements in the New Testament:

“No one who abides in him sins.” “No one born of God sins.”

At first glance, these seem to contradict 1 John 1:8–10. But the Greek clarifies John’s intent.

1. Sin as Lawlessness

John defines sin as ἀνομία (anomia)—not merely breaking rules but rejecting God’s authority. It is relational rebellion.

2. The Present Tense Matters

John uses present-tense verbs:

• ὁ ἁμαρτάνων — “the one who keeps on sinning”
• οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει — “does not keep on sinning”

In Greek, the present tense often indicates habitual or ongoing action. John is not describing isolated failures but patterns of life.

3. The Seed of God

John says God’s σπέρμα (sperma)—“seed”—remains in believers. This is vivid imagery: divine life implanted within us. The point is not perfectionism but transformation.

References

1. I. Howard Marshall, The Epistles of John (NICNT).
2. Stephen S. Smalley, 1, 2, 3 John (Word Biblical Commentary).

BDAG Greek Lexicon, entries for ἀνομία and σπέρμα