1 John 3:4 - Forerunner Commentary

1 John 3:4

2 Beloved, ^anow we are children of God; and ^bit has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, ^cwe shall be like Him, for ^dwe shall see Him as He is.

3 ^aAnd everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and ^asin is lawlessness.

5 And you know ^athat He was manifested ^bto take away our sins, and ^cin Him there is no sin.

6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

8 ^aHe who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, ^bthat He might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whoever has been ^aborn of God does not sin, for ^bHis seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, ^athat we should love one another,

12 not as ^aCain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if ^athe world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love¹ his brother abides in death.

15 ^aWhoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that ^bno murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

16 ^aBy this we know love, ^bbecause He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But ^awhoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

18 My little children, ^alet us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

19 And by this we¹ know ^athat we are of the truth, and shall² assure our hearts before Him.

20 ^aFor if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Verse Comparison: 1 John 3:4

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American Standard Version
Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Amplified® Bible
Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God's law by transgression or neglect--being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

Contemporary English Version
Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law.

Darby English Version
Every one that practises sin practises also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Good News Bible
Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God's law, because sin is a breaking of the law.

International Standard Version
Everyone who keeps living in sin also practices disobedience. In fact, sin is disobedience.

King James Version
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

New American Standard Bible
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

New International Version
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

New King James Version
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin equates with lawlessness.

Young's Literal Translation
Every one who is doing the sin, the lawlessness also he doth do, and the sin is the lawlessness,

New English Translation
Everyone who practices sin¹ also practices lawlessness;² indeed,³ sin is lawlessness.

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