That is what we are to strive for, yet the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, as the disciples found out when Jesus was arrested and they all fell away and Peter even denied knowing Jesus three times! (Matthew 26:31-46) Of course, this was only a temporary weak moment for 11 of the disciples and not a permanent decision (except for Judas Iscariot). In Proverbs 24:16, we read - For a
righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, But the
wicked shall fall by calamity.
In Galatians 5:17, we read - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The struggle is real! Do you claim to be sinless, without fault or defect, 100% of the time, exactly like Jesus?
As Greek scholar AT Robertson points out in 1 John 3:9 (KJV) - Doeth no sin (amartian ou poiei). Linear present active indicative as in verse
John 4 like amartanei in verse
John 8.
The child of God does not have the habit of sin. His seed (sperma autou). God's seed, "the divine principle of life" (Vincent). Cf.
John 1. And he cannot sin (kai ou dunatai amartanein).
This is a wrong translation, for this English naturally means "and he cannot commit sin" as if it were kai ou dunatai amartein or amarthsai (second aorist or first aorist active infinitive). The present active infinitive amartanein can only mean "and he cannot go on sinning," as is true of amartanei in verse
John 8 and amartanwn in verse
John 6. For the aorist subjunctive to commit a sin see amarthte and amarth in
John 2:1.
A great deal of false theology has grown out of a misunderstanding of the tense of amartanein here. Paul has precisely John's idea in Romans 6:1 epimenwmen th amartiai (shall we continue in sin, present active linear subjunctive) in contrast with amarthswmen in Romans 6:15 (shall we commit a sin, first aorist active subjunctive). -https://
www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/1-john/1-john-3-9.html
1 John 3:9 in the NASB reads -
No one who is born of God practices sin..
In 1 John 5:18 reiterates the principle which has been stated throughout the book of John, that if a person has been born of God (Greek gennao is used in the perfect tense), he will
not practice or live in sin (Greek hamartano is used in the present tense to imply a life
characterized by sin, rather than an isolated act of sin).
If 1 John 3:9 and 1 John 5:18 truly meant that anyone who is born of God NEVER sins at all, then we would have a contradiction. In 1 John 2:1, we read - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And
if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Wait a minute. "Never sins at all -
if anyone sins." - CONTRADICTION.
Departing from wickedness/iniquity characterizes those who are born of God/believers, in CONTRAST with those who are not born of God/unbelievers who work iniquity/practice lawlessness. (Matthew 7:23).
Believers are sanctified by faith in Christ, have turned from darkness to light and have received forgiveness of sin. 2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And
what communion has light with darkness? Ephesians 5:8 - for you were
formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.
Of course you disagree with Strong's because it does not line up with your self righteous, heretical doctrine.
Believers do change their mind and
no longer practice sin, but instead, practice righteousness. (1 John 3:9-10).
Believers do confess, speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins.
Those who teach sinless have also used and abused the words of Jesus in John 8:11, in which He tells the woman caught in adultery, "go and sin no more." Jesus was telling her to
go and leave her life of sin. She had been practicing adultery. Sinless perfection is not being taught here. Jesus cannot compromise his perfect holy standard, so of course He is not going to say, "go and just sin a little bit." It's time for you to come down off of your self righteous high horse and place your faith (belief, trust, reliance) in JESUS CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION. Self moral reformation is not a substitute for regeneration.