1John3:9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. NLT
I was discussing 1John3:9 with someone recently. I had to clear some issues of misinterpretation by some Christians not because it is directly their fault but translation is the issue here. If you read King James version, it says '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.
I prefer the NLT translation because it represents the true intent of the writer. Some have taken the verse to mean that come what may, a believer cannot sin but you and I agree that we've had times when we fell into sin not because the nature of God is not in us but because we didn't abide in Christ. A believer that is not abiding in Christ can sin and that was why Jesus said we should abide in him,John15:3-5. A believer has a will that God cannot violate, if a believer chooses not to abide, he can sin.
Now, what's 1John3:9 saying? What that scripture is simply saying is that a believer doesn't make sin a practice. He doesn't enjoy it even though he may stumble into sin as a result of his carelessness, yet we cannot say that's his lifestyle. It is wrong to call a blood-washed saint a sinner because the nature of sin has been dealt with on the cross. Even when we fail, God made provision for an advocate to plead our case with the father. 1John2:1.
Don't condemn yourself because of the mistakes you made, if you've repented, God has forgiven you, forgive yourself.
CONFESSION: Father, I thank you for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I am blood washed, I refuse to walk under the cloud of condemnation, I am a saint and not a sinner.