Is There A Sin That A Believer Cannot Commit?
The Sin a Believer Cannot Commit in Focus:
Scripture teaches that there are different kinds of sin, and understanding these distinctions is crucial for believers. The Bible makes a clear differentiation between sins that believers can commit and a specific sin that a true believer cannot commit. This distinction is particularly evident in 1 John, where John distinguishes between "sin not unto death" and "sin unto death" (1 John 5:16-17).
The theological framework for understanding this begins with recognizing that all believers sin. As 1 John 1:8 states, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." Yet, in the same letter, John writes that "whoever is born of God does not commit sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9). This apparent contradiction is resolved when we understand that John is referring to a specific kind of sin—the sin unto death, exemplified by the way of Cain. If we step back and consider more of the chapter we can see that this is clearly what John is talking about:
1 John 3:8-13 KJV He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) 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. (10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. (11) For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (12) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's were righteous. (13) Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Notice that he does not conclude with, “don’t hate the brethren.” Instead, he states, “Don’t be surprised if the world hates you.” This theme continues in the following verses in chapter 4, where John explains that we are now children of God, cherished by the Father, but our future glory remains unmanifested; however, when we see Him, we will be like Him. The world, engulfed in darkness, does not recognize us. This message is not a warning to Abel not to hate other Abels, but rather a caution for Abels regarding Cain, explaining that those who seem to boast in their fellowship with God while excluding and hating them are of the world and should be discerned!
Summary of Related Misconceptions:
â–ş Claim: The phrase "does not commit sin" in 1 John 3:9 means a true believer never sins at all.
Scripture teaches the opposite. John himself writes in 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things I write to you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." John clearly acknowledges that believers do sin, but he's making a distinction between different types of sin.
â–ş Claim: The phrase "does not commit sin" means a true believer doesn't "practice" or "continually commit" sin.
This misunderstands the biblical principle. This interpretation backloads works into the gospel and changes its definition to exclude certain kinds of people. The gospel must be big enough to include every sinner who takes refuge in Christ. A genuine born-again believer can fall into the power of sin through deception if they don't understand the gospel rightly.
â–ş Claim: The phrase "does not commit sin" means a believer's spirit doesn't sin, only their flesh sins.
This view distorts the biblical teaching. We are responsible for our sins, and John clearly states that believers can and do sin. The distinction is not between spirit and flesh but between types of sin, specifically the sin unto death versus sins not unto death.
What Scripture Actually Says:
The key to understanding this passage is found in the story of Cain and Abel. In 1 John 3:12, John explicitly references Cain, saying, "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."
Cain's sin was not merely murder; it represented a complete rejection of God's way of justification. Abel offered a blood sacrifice, showing his faith in God's provision for sin. Cain, however, offered the fruit of the cursed ground, representing works righteousness. When his offering was rejected, his countenance fell, and he murdered his brother out of hatred for Abel's righteousness.
In 1 John 5:16-17, John clarifies: "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."
The sin unto death is the sin of Cain—the complete rejection of Christ and His propitiation, manifested in hatred for those who are justified by faith. This sin involves unbelief at its core, but it goes beyond mere unbelief to active hatred of those who believe. It is a rejection of the testimony, the gospel, the seed that abides in believers.
Correct Understanding from Scripture:
- The sin a believer cannot commit is the sin unto death, which is the rejection of Christ as the propitiation for sins and the hatred of those who are justified by faith.
- Supporting Scripture: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death" (1 John 3:14).
- This sin is rooted in unbelief and manifests as hatred toward those who are justified by faith.
- The "seed" that remains in believers is the testimony of Christ, the gospel message that we have believed.
- Supporting Scripture: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1).
- This seed is the incorruptible word of God that brings us into the light.
- Abel's "practice of righteousness" was his faith in the blood sacrifice, not his works.
- Supporting Scripture: "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous" (Hebrews 11:4).
- Abel's offering was not a work that justified him but a work that testified of what he believed.
- Believers can and do sin, but they have an advocate with the Father.
- Supporting Scripture: "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 2:1-2).
- This advocate is Jesus Christ, who is the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world.
- The way of Cain represents the rejection of God's way of justification through faith.
- Supporting Scripture: "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain" (Jude 1:11).
- This way leads to darkness, death, and ultimately judgment.
Implications/Damage of Misunderstanding:
Misunderstanding this teaching leads to several harmful consequences:
- Backloading works into the gospel changes its definition to exclude certain kinds of people. When we say, "Well, the one who is born of God doesn't continually practice sin," we're changing the definition of the gospel to exclude those struggling with sin patterns.
- This misinterpretation creates fear and condemnation in believers who struggle with sin. Many believers read 1 John and come away thinking they're not saved because they still struggle with sin, not understanding that John is talking about a specific kind of sin.
- It leads to a failure to recognize the power of sin. Sin is stronger than we are, and we cannot overcome it by our own strength or resolutions. This is what God told Cain: "Sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7).
True Grace/Application Brings You to Christ:
Understanding the sin a believer cannot commit brings us back to the sufficiency of Christ's work. The gospel is the lens through which we interpret everything. The word of the cross, whatever the cross accomplished, must be reckoned whenever we approach passages like this.
The true application of this teaching is to rest in Christ's finished work. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins. When we sin, we don't need to make vows or try to overcome sin by our own strength. Instead, we come boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help in time of need.
This understanding leads us to love the brethren, recognizing them by their testimony. We acknowledge that their offering (faith in Christ's blood) is acceptable to God, just as our offering is. We don't shut them out or condemn them, because to do so would be to cut the ground out from under our own feet.
Final Takeaways:
- The sin unto death is the sin of Cain, which involves rejecting the testimony of Christ and therefore hating the brethren who are justified by the propitiation.
- A believer cannot commit this sin because the seed (the testimony, the gospel) abides in them. To reject the testimony would be to reject their own salvation.
- All believers sin, but they have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for their sins.
- The practice of righteousness is believing in Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins. This is what brings us into the light and causes us to be sons of God.
- The way of Cain is the way of works righteousness, rejecting God's way of justification through faith and hating those who are justified by faith.
Additional Biblical Insights:
The story of Cain and Abel establishes a pattern that appears throughout Scripture regarding true versus false worship. Abel's offering was accepted because it represented faith in God's provision for sin, while Cain's offering was rejected because it represented works righteousness.
This pattern continues with the contrast between law and gospel. The law was given to reveal sin and shut every mouth before God, while the gospel reveals God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. The legalist, like Cain, focuses on sorrow, toil, and the law, misrepresenting God's character. The believer, like Abel, focuses on God's provision and grace.
The contrast between Cain and Abel also represents the enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman prophesied in Genesis 3:15. Cain was "of the wicked one" (1 John 3:12), representing the seed of the serpent, while Abel represented the seed of the woman, the line of faith that would eventually lead to Christ.