Commentaries:
The Word came as a man to die for the forgiveness of our sins (hamartia) without regard to classification! Hamartia is the general word used throughout the New Testament to describe sins of all kinds; it means "to miss the mark" or "to fail to reach a standard." Thus, John is saying that Christ's sacrifice covers all transgressions of law, whether or not we consider them to be physical or spiritual in nature.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Sin Is Spiritual!
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 John 3:5:
Leviticus 16:5