Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Paradox of Sin in 1 John

Paradox of Sin in 1 John

Last updated on: October 4, 2018 at 3:34 pm by Rev. Jared V. Ingle

Paradox of Sin in 1 John 2018-10-04T15:34:54-04:00 Rev. Jared V. Ingle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

i. Let’s Begin with a Paradox

A paradox is like a conundrum or something that can’t be explained. What I’m going to start with are two baffling verses in the same book.

1 John 3.9 (NRSV): Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God.

1 John 1.8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Do you see the paradox? He’s writing to the church in both chapters. What is the Apostle John saying? For the answer, you have to dig a little in the Greek.

Paradox of Sin in 1 John

In 1 John 3.9 sin is not a stand-alone word

It is a noun, but it’s linked to the verb “do . . . sin,” or “do not sin.” Not is placed in the middle of the verb. So it’s more about the verb in 1 John 3.9.

The verb to do is present, meaning that it happens now. It’s active, meaning that we’re engaging in it. It’s indicative, or a matter of fact. In other words, what John is saying is that people are trying to chase after sin now. This is something that John says should not be done.

In 1 John 1.8 sin is a noun and it does stand on its own

As a basic term in the Bible, sin can simply mean to miss the mark. It’s as if we draw back the arrow, we aim, we fire, and we’re missing what God has for us.

Amy Spreitzer Windsor | Backyard Archery in Louisiana
2013 | Public Domain

Or it’s as if we’re running a race and we keep veering off to the side. We keep taking what we think are short cuts, but they end up being bunny trails.

We’re missing the mark. It means to err. It literally means to wander. One of our favorite sayings is, “Not all who wander are lost.” It’s commonly attributed to a character in The Lord of the Rings [actually misattributed]. But sin doesn’t mean to wander in a good way.

Sin is more of a noun. It means our occasional sins. There are times in our lives when we are going to miss it. We are going to wander from the truth and have to come back to the truth.

However, there are times in our lives when sin will become something we’re chasing after. That’s where the warning is.

ii. When someone is sinning, I ask these types of questions

Others who are spiritual pastors, directors, etc., may ask these same types of questions. Of course we ask people on the side. We don’t call them out in a church service.

Are you walking with God?

Are you turning toward God or are you shying away from Him?

I’m not talking about a one time occurrence. I’m talking about a habit or way of life.

Are you positioning yourself and turning toward Him, even if it hurts a little bit?

Walking in the light can be a little difficult sometimes because God can see us . . . like He can’t see us in the dark . . .

Are you on The Way or wandering from the path?

For those of us who have been in this game

For Christians who have a refined sense of discernment, we can discern with just a few questions like the ones above:

. . . if someone has sinned, and it’s hurt them or hurt their family

. . . or if someone is living in sin and chasing sin

We all sin, but if we’re not careful we can turn aside to a sinful lifestyle.

With gratitude to Pastor Peter Moon, of Harbor Light Christian Center in Traverse City, for sharing his pulpit with me on a fine Sunday morning, originally entitled The Dilemma of the Sin of Omission

Previous Post

September 22, 2018

Jared & Mateo: The Undragoning of Eustace (a/v)

Next Post

September 27, 2018 Toward a Biblical Concept of Personality

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Communion Cruz Ingle Crystal Ingle Early Church Engaging Culture Ethics & Society Family Formation History In Dialogue Jared & Crystal Kingdom of God Majority World Church Mateo Ingle Messenger College Mission Narrative Pentecostal Church of God Prayer Shepherding The Sermon The Writings Theology Theology & Psychology Traverse City Uncategorized Vernell Ingle Word Study

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 May 2017 March 2017 March 2014 February 2013 January 2013 October 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which prophet stood watch on a rampart to hear from God?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Habakkuk Ezekiel Amos Joel