You have GOT to look at the GREEK verb Tenses, to arrive at the full meaning.
In Greek we have 6 Primarly Verb Tenses, while in ENGLISH we only have 3 Primary Verb Tense.
You will find that JOHN is extremely fond of one of the THREE Tenses that we do NOT HAVE IN ENGLISH.
Therefore you will find that what JOHN meant by what he said,
"We strive to not sin."
IT DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE PERFECT AT NOT SINNING. It means that we strive as a Lifestyle OR Characteristic, to avoid sinning as a Christian, even though we stumble occasionally and do sin. AND WHEN WE DO SIN, we will automatically Admit it to GOD, repent in accordance to
1 John 1:9, and get back up, and CONTINUE to STRIVE TO NOT SIN. THAT is the Lifestyle the Holy Spirit put into our newborn Human Spirit.
I can prove you DO SIN with just a few verses:
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NKJV)
20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.
Romans 3:20 (NKJV)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:7 (HCSB)
7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law.
For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.
1 Peter 2:13-17 (NKJV)
13
Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man
for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers and
for the praise of those who do good.
15
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put
to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as
bondservants of God.
17 Honor all
people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the king
{That would be President Donald Trump, if you are an American.}
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Every time you exceed the Posted Speed Limit, you SIN, even when it is 1 m.p.h., without a TICKETT.
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Every time you Park Illegally, you SIN, even if you do not get a Ticket.
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Failure to pick up your dog's poop, you SIN.
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Every time you LITTER, even a Cigarette Butt, YOU SIN.
Shall I go on ? ? ? There are lots more ordinances that I did not cover?