1 John 3:9
Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God's seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Anyone born of God
This phrase emphasizes the transformative nature of spiritual rebirth. The Greek term "γεννηθείς" (gennētheis) refers to being born or begotten, indicating a new creation in Christ. Historically, this concept aligns with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, where being "born again" is essential for entering the Kingdom of God. This rebirth signifies a profound change in identity and nature, aligning believers with God's family and His divine nature.

refuses to practice sin
The Greek word "ποιεῖ" (poiei) means to make or do, implying a continuous action. The phrase suggests a habitual lifestyle rather than isolated acts. In the historical context of the early church, this was a call to distinguish true believers from those who merely professed faith without a corresponding change in behavior. The refusal to practice sin is a mark of genuine conversion and sanctification, reflecting a life increasingly conformed to Christ's image.

because God’s seed abides in him
"Seed" here is translated from the Greek "σπέρμα" (sperma), which can denote offspring or a source of life. This metaphorical use implies the divine nature imparted to believers through the Holy Spirit. The concept of God's seed abiding suggests permanence and ongoing influence, reminiscent of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, where the seed represents the word of God taking root in fertile soil. Historically, this underscores the transformative power of God's presence within believers, enabling them to live righteously.

he cannot go on sinning
The phrase "cannot go on sinning" reflects the Greek "οὐ δύναται ἁμαρτάνειν" (ou dynatai hamartanein), indicating an inability to persist in sin. This is not about sinless perfection but rather an ongoing struggle against sin, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the early church, this was a critical distinction between those truly regenerated and those who were not. The historical context emphasizes the radical change in a believer's life, where sin becomes incompatible with their new identity in Christ.

because he has been born of God
Reiterating the concept of spiritual rebirth, this phrase highlights the source of the believer's new nature. The Greek "γεγέννηται" (gegennētai) is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing effects. This rebirth is not merely a change in status but a transformation of the heart and mind. Historically, this was a powerful assurance to early Christians facing persecution, affirming their secure identity in Christ and the indwelling presence of God that empowers them to live victoriously over sin.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Apostle
The author of 1 John, one of Jesus' original twelve disciples, known for his close relationship with Jesus and his emphasis on love and truth.

2. The Early Church
The audience of John's letter, consisting of early Christians facing challenges such as false teachings and moral dilemmas.

3. God
The divine being whose seed abides in believers, enabling them to live righteously.

4. Believers (Born of God)
Individuals who have accepted Christ and are transformed by God's presence within them.

5. Sin
The moral failing or transgression against God's law, which believers are called to reject.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Seed
The term "seed" (Greek: sperma) signifies the divine nature and life imparted to believers, enabling them to live righteously.

The New Birth
Being "born of God" is a spiritual rebirth that fundamentally changes a person's nature and relationship with sin.

The Incompatibility of Sin
A true believer, transformed by God's presence, cannot continue in habitual sin because it contradicts their new identity.

Living in Victory
Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and live in accordance with God's will.

Assurance of Salvation
The evidence of a transformed life provides assurance of one's salvation and relationship with God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of being "born of God" in 1 John 3:9 relate to Jesus' teaching on being "born again" in John 3:3-8?

2. In what ways does Romans 6:1-14 help us understand the believer's relationship with sin after being born of God?

3. How can we practically apply the truth of Galatians 5:16-25 to ensure we are living by the Spirit and not gratifying the desires of the flesh?

4. What does 1 Peter 1:23 teach us about the nature of the "seed" that abides in believers, and how does this impact our daily lives?

5. How can 2 Corinthians 5:17 encourage us when we struggle with sin, and what steps can we take to live as new creations in Christ?
Connections to Other Scriptures
John 3:3-8
Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus about being "born again" connects to the concept of being "born of God" in 1 John 3:9.

Romans 6:1-14
Discusses the believer's new life in Christ and the call to no longer be slaves to sin, paralleling the idea of refusing to practice sin.

Galatians 5:16-25
The contrast between living by the Spirit and gratifying the desires of the flesh aligns with the transformation described in 1 John 3:9.

1 Peter 1:23
Speaks of being born again through the imperishable seed of God's word, similar to the "seed" mentioned in 1 John 3:9.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Describes believers as new creations in Christ, reinforcing the transformative aspect of being born of God.
CannotJ. Seymour.1 John 3:9
Cannot SinJ. B. Figgis, M. A.1 John 3:9
Cannot SinBp. Westcott.1 John 3:9
Sin Natural to the Regenerate NatureC. H. Spurgeon.1 John 3:9
Sins of the RegenerateS. Charnock.1 John 3:9
Sonship Exclusive of SinJ. Morgan, D. D.1 John 3:9
The Failings of Christians1 John 3:9
The Great Privilege of Those that are Born of GodJohn Wesley 1 John 3:9
The Sins of the RegenerateBp. Hackett.1 John 3:9
The Usurper Deposed and the Conqueror VanquishedW. Lupton.1 John 3:9
Righteousness and Sin in Relation to Children of GodR. Finlayson 1 John 3:1-12
People
Cain, John
Places
Ephesus
Topics
Abides, Abideth, Able, Anyone, Begotten, Born, Can't, Child, Commit, Commits, Continue, Doesn't, Germ, God-given, God's, Guilty, Habitually, Nature, Practices, Practise, Remains, Seed, Sin, Sinner, Sinning
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 John 3:9

     4506   seed
     5362   justice, believers' lives
     5655   birth
     5724   offspring
     6030   sin, avoidance
     6511   salvation
     6728   regeneration
     8105   assurance, basis of

1 John 3:3-10

     5441   philosophy

1 John 3:6-9

     8102   abiding in Christ

1 John 3:7-10

     4121   Satan, enemy of God
     8750   false teachings

1 John 3:8-10

     4125   Satan, agents of

Library
The Purifying Hope
Eversley, 1869. Windsor Castle, 1869. 1 John iii. 2. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Let us consider this noble text, and see something, at least, of what it has to tell us. It is, like all God's messages, all God's laws, ay, like God's world in which we live and breathe,
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Brotherly Love.
Text: 1 John 3, 13-18. 13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Growth and Power of Sin
'And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering: But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Love that Calls us Sons
'Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God....'--1 John iii. 1. One or two points of an expository character will serve to introduce what else I have to say on these words. The text is, I suppose, generally understood as if it pointed to the fact that we are called the sons of God as the great exemplification of the wonderfulness of His love. That is a perfectly possible view of the connection and meaning of the text. But if we are to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Unrevealed Future of the Sons of God
'Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.'--1 John iii. 2. I have hesitated, as you may well believe, whether I should take these words for a text. They seem so far to surpass anything that can be said concerning them, and they cover such immense fields of dim thought, that one may well be afraid lest one should spoil them by even attempting to dilate on them. And
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Purifying Influence of Hope
'And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.'--1 John iii. 3. That is a very remarkable 'and' with which this verse begins. The Apostle has just been touching the very heights of devout contemplation, soaring away up into dim regions where it is very hard to follow,--'We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.' And now, without a pause, and linking his thoughts together by a simple 'and,' he passes from the unimaginable splendours of the Beatific Vision
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Practical Righteousness
Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.'--1 John iii. 7. The popular idea of the Apostle John is strangely unlike the real man. He is supposed to be the gentle Apostle of Love, the mystic amongst the Twelve. He is that, but he was the 'son of thunder' before he was the Apostle of Love, and he did not drop the first character when he attained the second. No doubt his central thought was, 'God is Love'; no doubt that thought had
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Meaning of Sin, and the Revelation of the True Self
"In this we have come to know what love is, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."--1 JOHN III. 16. It is important that we should arrive at some clearer understanding of the nature of sin. Let us approach the question from the side of the Divine Indwelling. The doctrine of the Divine Immanence, in things and in persons, that doctrine which we are to-day slowly recovering, is rescued from pantheism by holding fast at the same time to the Christian
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

How to Fertilize Love
Love is the greatest thing in earth or heaven. Out of it flows most of the things that are worth while in life. Love of relatives, love of friends, and love of the brethren (1 John 3: 14) make life worth living. There is no heart so empty as the heart that is without love. There is no life so joyful as the love-filled life. Love puts a song in the heart, a sparkle in the eye, a smile on the lips, and makes the whole being glad. And God's love is greater than all else. He who has God's love has a
Charles Wesley Naylor—Heart Talks

Vanity of Human Glory.
"The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not."--1 John iii. 1 Of St. Simon and St. Jude, the Saints whom we this day commemorate, little is known[1]. St. Jude, indeed, still lives in the Church in his Catholic epistle; but of his history we only know that he was brother to St. James the Less, and nearly related to our Lord and that, like St. Peter, he had been a married man. Besides his name of Jude or Judas, he is also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus in the Gospels. Of St. Simon we only
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The First Fruits of the Spirit
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:1 1. By "them which are in Christ Jesus," St. Paul evidently means, those who truly believe in him; those who, "being justified by faith, have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." They who thus believe do no longer "walk after the flesh," no longer follow the motions of corrupt nature, but "after the Spirit"; both their thoughts, words, and works are under
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The End of Christ's Coming
"For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. 1. Many eminent writers, heathen as well as Christian, both in earlier and later ages, have employed their utmost labour and art in painting the beauty of virtue. And the same pains they have taken to describe, in the liveliest colours, the deformity of vice; both of vice in general, and of those particular vices which were most prevalent in their respective ages and countries. With equal care
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." 1 John 3:9. 1. It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: It being certain, on the one hand, that whoever is justified is also born of God; and, on the other, that whoever is born of God is also justified; yea, that both these gifts of God are given to every believer in one and the same moment. In one
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Beatific vision
"Millions of years my wondering eyes Shall o'er thy beauties rove; And endless ages I'll adore The glories of thy love." We are rejoiced to find such a verse as this, for it tells us that our curiosity shall be satisfied, our desire consummated, our bliss perfected. "WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS." Heaven shall be ours, and all we ever dreamed of him shall be more than in our possession. By the help of God's mighty Spirit, who alone can put words in our mouths, let us speak first of all concerning the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

A Present Religion
It is astonishing how distance blunts the keen edge of anything that is disagreeable. War is at all times a most fearful scourge. The thought of slain bodies and of murdered men must always harrow up the soul; but because we hear of these things in the distance, there are few Englishmen who can truly enter into their horrors. If we should hear the booming of cannon on the deep which girdles this island; if we should see at our doors the marks of carnage and bloodshed; then should we more thoroughly
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

The Death of Christ for his People
"He laid down his life for us."--1 John 3:16. COME, believer and contemplate this sublime truth, thus proclaimed to thee in simple monosyllables: "He laid down his life for us." There is not one long word in the sentence; it is all as simple as it can be; and it is simple because it is sublime. Sublimity in thought always needs simplicity in words to express itself. Little thoughts require great words to explain them; little preachers need Latin words to convey their feeble ideas, but great thoughts
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900

The Warrant of Faith
We sing, and sing rightly too-- "My soul, no more attempt to draw Thy life and comfort from the law," for from the law death cometh and not life, misery and not comfort. "To convince and to condemn is all the law can do." O, when will all professors, and especially all professed ministers of Christ, learn the difference between the law and the gospel? Most of them make a mingle-mangle, and serve out deadly potions to the people, often containing but one ounce of gospel to a pound of law, whereas,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 9: 1863

The Way of Life.
(Second Sunday after Trinity.) 1 JOHN iii. 14. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." The writings of S. John the Evangelist breathe forth love as a flower garden does sweetness. Here lies the secret of S. John's title, "the disciple whom Jesus loved." Love begets love, and the disciple was so near to the heart of his Master because he loved much. When the text was written he was a very old man, and Bishop of Ephesus. It was in that fair and famous
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

"But Ye have Received the Spirit of Adoption, Whereby we Cry, Abba, Father. "
Rom. viii. 15.--"But ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God," 1 John iii. 1. It is a wonderful expression of love to advance his own creatures, not only infinitely below himself, but far below other creatures, to such a dignity. Lord, what is man that thou so magnified him! But it surpasseth wonder, that rebellious creatures, his enemies, should have, not only
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"Whereby we Cry, Abba, Father. "
Rom. viii. 15.--"Whereby we cry, Abba, Father." As there is a light of grace in bestowing such incomparably high dignities and excellent gifts on poor sinners, such as, to make them the sons of God who were the children of the devil, and heirs of a kingdom who were heirs of wrath; so there is a depth of wisdom in the Lord's allowance and manner of dispensing his love and grace in this life. For though the love be wonderful, that we should be called the sons of God; yet, as that apostle speaks,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"And for Sin Condemned Sin in the Flesh. "
Rom. viii. 3.--"And for sin condemned sin in the flesh." The great and wonderful actions of great and excellent persons must needs have some great ends answerable to them. Wisdom will teach them not to do strange things, but for some rare purposes, for it were a folly and madness to do great things to compass some small and petty end, as unsuitable as that a mountain should travail to bring forth a mouse. Truly we must conceive, that it must needs be some honourable and high business, that brought
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

What is Sanctification?
Scripturally, the word sanctification has three meanings: First, separation; second, dedication; third, spirit-filling. Webster's definition of it is as follows: "1. Sanctification is the act of God's grace by which the affections of man are purified, or alienated from sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love of God; also, the state of being thus purified or sanctified. 2. The act of consecrating, or setting apart for a sacred purpose." "Sanctifier. One who sanctifies or makes holy; specifically,
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The Sinner Arraigned and Convicted.
1. Conviction of guilt necessary.--2. A charge of rebellion against God advanced.--3. Where it is shown--that all men are born under God's law.--4. That no man hath perfectly kept it.--5. An appeal to the reader's conscience on this head, that he hath not.--6. That to have broken it, is an evil inexpressibly great.--7. Illustrated by a more particular view of the aggravations of this guilt, arising--from knowledge.--8. From divine favors received.--9. From convictions of conscience overborne.--10.
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Solidarity of the Human Family
Every man has worth and sacredness as a man. We fixed on that as the simplest and most fundamental social principle of Jesus. The second question is, What relation do men bear to each other? DAILY READINGS First Day: The Social Impulse and the Law of Christ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
Walter Rauschenbusch—The Social Principles of Jesus

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