What Does it Mean That He Who Abides in Him (Jesus) Does Not Sin - 1 John 3:6?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT HE WHO ABIDES IN HIM (JESUS) DOES NOT SIN - 1 JOHN 3:6? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop

1 John 2:28-29 says "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him." (NKJV). 

1 John 3:4-6 says "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." (NKJV). 

John does not teach that believers are sinless or immune to sin. The two texts of Scripture are therefore not contradictory. 

Earlier in the same Epistle, John taught that believers are not immune to sin. 1 John 1:8-10 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (NKJV). 

The Greek verb for “confess” in v. 9 above is in the present tense, meaning that we should keep on confessing our sins. This is a continuing duty for the believer while under the sun. David Guzik rightly observes that this text refutes the misguided notion of a “once-for-all” forgiveness for sin at our conversion. 

Notice that God's forgiveness in this context is conditional and is tied to the offender's action. Our confession of sin is informed by the sanctity of our covenant relationship with God. Confession is therefore a natural response from the believer under the leading of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:26). 

Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6:9-15 reveals that we are daily predisposed to sin. He teaches us to petition God to forgive us our trespasses even as we forgive those who trespass against us (v. 12). Jesus’s statement in Matthew 7:11 is instructive of our sinful nature. 

Jesus alone was without sin in His incarnation (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was fully God and fully Man at the same time. His divinity was therefore not extinguished by His humanity. No other person, not even Mary the mother of Jesus, was born sinless or led a sinless life on earth. 

Habitual sinfulness or a lifestyle of sin and disobedience is however condemned in Scripture by the same author. 1 John 3:9 says “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (NKJV). This Scripture text does not teach or imply that a born-again Christian dwells in sinless perfection or that they cannot commit sin. It has been theologically understood as a condemnation of habitual sinfulness. 

A life of perpetual sinfulness is incubated by a seared conscience which has been described as state of moral desensitization caused by repeatedly ignoring God's truth, resulting in a heart numb to sin, conviction, and guilt (1 Timothy 4:2). It grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). 

Notice the grim implication of the statement of Hebrews 10:26-27 which says: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" (NKJV).

My view is that 1 John 2:28-29 does not contradict 1 John 3:4-6. Instead, the two texts of Scripture compliment each other in outlining the nature of the believer's life Christ. We dwell in a sinful world and are predisposed to sin. The latter text condemns habitual sinfulness or a lifestyle of ingrained sinful disobedience. To practice righteousness is to walk in obedience to God's word and under the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-26). 

John therefore never asserted that believers are without sin. Such an assertion would contradict 2 Corinthians 5:21. 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2026 

What Are The Things That Timothy Was Exhorted to Commit To Faithful Men?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT TIMOTHY WAS EXHORTED TO COMMIT TO FAITHFUL MEN?

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

2 Timothy 2:1-2 says "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (NKJV). 

Which "things" does this Scripture contemplate in context? 

My view is that the answer to this question is found in the preceding passage of 2 Timothy 1:8-12. Paul exhorted Timothy not to shy away from proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ for which Paul had suffered and was now imprisoned. 

Notice Paul's unwavering convictions in v. 12 where he says "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (NKJV). 

2 Timothy 2:13-14 is an apostolic charge on Timothy. Paul exhorts Timothy saying:

"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." (NKJV). 

In the succeeding passage of 2 Timothy 2, which is our passage of context, Paul continues to encourage Timothy to stand firm for the gospel and to raise men who will teach the word of God in truth. He instructs: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (NKJV). 

So what were these things? 

Adam Clarke observes that Paul's mention of "these things" could be in reference to some doctrines delivered to Timothy during his pastoral ordination. Matthew Henry adds that Paul's exhortation implied that Timothy must not deliver anything besides what he had received from Paul. He should not add or remove anything therefrom. The gospel should be bequeathed to faithful men in its pristine form in order to preserve the credibility of its doctrines. 

Some scholars believe Paul was making a direct reference to a specific set of doctrines that he had entrusted to Timothy rather than the whole of the evangelical doctrine. 

However, given the perpetuity contemplated in the text, it is difficult to rule out Paul's reference to the entire gospel truths that he had taught Timothy. In 2 Timothy 3:10, Paul affirms Timothy's mentorship saying: "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance" (NKJV). 

My view is that "these things" is a reference to the fundamental truths and doctrines of Scripture which lie at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul proclaimed and wrote in his epistles. Paul was legitimately concerned that these truths may be compromised or misrepresented by people who had no knowledge of Christ or the theological foundation underlying the gospel ministry. 

This is perhaps most profoundly demonstrated in Acts 18:24-28 where a faithful Jewish Christian couple took Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew, and instructed him in the way of Christ. The couple had heard Apollos preach in the Ephesus synagogue and observed his doctrinal deficiency. 

We should bear in mind that during his last visit to Ephesus, Paul had warned the Ephesus church elders of coming apostasy (Acts 20:17-38). 

Notice further that Paul's epistle to the Ephesians lays considerable emphasis on doctrinal grounding of believers so that they are not tossed about by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:12-16). 

In all church ages, God's word is preserved through faithful men who revere God's word and proclaim it in truth. These men should be trained and equipped with theological skills by which they can rightly expound the word of God with the diligence that it deserves (2 Timothy 2:15). 

This is the only way to preserve the sanctity of Scripture from the ferocious fangs of false teachers. 

Who are these false teachers?

False teachers are diverse. They are the wolves in sheepskin contemplated by Jesus in Matthew 7:15. They are the men who have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). They are the false teachers mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:1-5. They are the men who will spread destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1-3). They are further described as teachers who "have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness." (2 Peter 2:15). 

It is against these evil men that Scripture exhorts us to earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). 

In contemporary Christianity, the revelation and authority of Scripture has come under heavy distortion by false teachers who purport to speak the mind of God. Millions of Christians are trapped under the manipulation and brainwashing of these self appointed prophets who twist Scripture for selfish benefit. 

The word of God should be proclaimed and defended by men and women who cherish the purity of its eternal truths and are prepared to stand out for the sanctity of Scripture. 

Shalom 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2026