By: Nathan Steel
Read First: 1 John 1.8–2.2; 2.29–3.10; John 3.16–21
I’ve had plenty of moments when my choices didn’t reflect the person I knew God was empowering me to be. And during those moments, I’ve wrestled with what Scripture says about sin, righteousness, and what it actually means to follow Jesus.
One passage that has particularly challenged me is 1 John 3.6–9, where John seems to suggest that those who belong to God cannot sin.
But wait. Earlier, John writes that claiming to be without sin is self-deception (1 John 1.8–10). He even acknowledges that believers may sin (1 John 2.1–2).
So which is it?
TO SIN OR NOT TO SIN?
The answer becomes clearer when we consider John’s larger argument.
Throughout his letter, John contrasts practicing righteousness with practicing sin (1 John 2.29–3.10). His concern isn’t simply whether someone commits an individual act of sin, but the greater trajectory of their life and whether their practices reflect their relationship with God.
This doesn’t mean that someone pursuing righteousness never struggles, stumbles, or fails. Rather, their life is characterized by continually responding to God, even when that response involves acknowledging sin and changing direction.
PRACTICING TRUTH MEANS COMING INTO THE LIGHT
Interestingly, John’s Gospel provides another perspective. In John 3.16–21, Jesus describes people avoiding the light because they don’t want their deeds exposed. But then he says something fascinating: “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light…” (John 3.21, NASB)
Notice that John describes someone practicing truth as the person who comes into the light.
In other words, honestly acknowledging our sin and allowing it to be exposed can itself be an expression of practicing truth.
BUT IF…
And this brings us back to John’s encouragement in his letter. He isn’t suggesting that sin doesn’t matter. In fact, he explicitly says he’s writing so that we won’t sin. But he also recognizes that we may fail. And when we do, he doesn’t encourage us to hide, pretend, or conclude that our relationship with God was never genuine. He points us to Jesus.
“But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2.1)
The person practicing truth isn’t necessarily the person with nothing to confess. The one practicing truth may actually be the person who’s willing to bring what they’ve done into the light.
And when they do, Jesus is there — not as an excuse to continue sinning, but as our advocate who makes forgiveness and restoration possible.
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