1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. I. THE CHANGE, OR THE WORK OF GRACE IN THE SINNER. 1. "Born of God." (See John 1:12, 13) As water cannot rise above its fountain, so can no change in man be better or greater than its cause. If it come from the flesh it must be like it, earthly and sinful. When it comes from the Spirit, then it must be like Him, spiritual, holy, and heavenly. 2. "His seed remaineth in him." It is immaterial whether "his" seed be understood of God or of the believer. It is that seed which God has sown in his heart. It is God's as the author of it. It is the believer's as the subject of it. How is this figure calculated to supplement and illustrate the former one. First, the sinner is born of God by means of the truth. He is left no longer ignorant of sin, but is taught to know its vileness and evil consequences. He is no longer ignorant of himself, but has been enlightened to see the depravity of his heart. Second, it is in the same way the life of faith and holiness thus begun is maintained in him. The idea is specially noticed in the text, "His seed remaineth in Him." It is in its own nature imperishable. The truth ever abides the same. The believer ever sees sin as he saw it at the first, vile and ruinous. He ever sees himself as he did at the beginning, exposed to ruin if he indulges it. He ever sees the Saviour as gracious and glorious as He appeared at the first. His claims do not diminish in his view, nor does he ever find reason to change his conclusions respecting this world and the next, time and eternity. II. THE EFFECTS THAT ARE DECLARED TO RESULT FROM IT. "He doth not commit sin, and he cannot sin." As two figures were used to describe the change, so are there two assertions to declare the results. The one is the assertion of a fact, and the other is an argument to explain and confirm it. 1. The fact — "He doth not commit sin." Let it be observed this is said of every converted man. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." He does not sin knowingly, wilfully, and habitually. We say of a man versed in literature, he is learned, although he is ignorant of many things. In like manner we speak of men, and say they are strong, although in some respects they may be weak. We judge of them by that which is prominent and paramount in them. 2. The second expression, explanatory and confirmatory of this fact, is still stronger, "He cannot sin, because tie is born of God." To live in sin is contrary to the new nature of which he has been made a partaker. The nature cannot and does not sin. Had he no other nature he would never sin. And there are many reasons why he cannot. (1) It is contrary to his views. He sees sin to be the greatest of all evils, and holiness to be the highest of all good. (2) It is contrary to his tastes; he dislikes sin and he loves holiness. (3) It is contrary to his most determined purposes. The language of David is not strange to him (Psalm 17:3). It were unreasonable to suppose such a man could live in sin. (4) It is contrary to his habits. He has served God and found His service to be liberty. (5) It is contrary to his interests. He knows that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to conic." He is not the fool to "sin against his own soul." (J. Morgan, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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