The Doctrine of Sin in 1 John

Abstract

"The doctrine of sin in John's first epistle has been problematical to many generations of Bible students. The basic question is: How is 1 John 2:l to be harmonized with 1 John 3:6 and 3:9? "My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (2:1).1 "No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. . . . No one born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God" (3:6-9)"