It's all in the translation. That's why you're misreading what the bible says.
Now the ESV is right to translate “we know that everyone who has been born of God” — and then it translates the verb — “does not
keep on sinning&,” which helps a little bit, maybe.
First John 3:9 has the same issue: “No one born of God
makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
Now I could pull rank with Greek here — which I will — and then I will back up and say that is not the key issue. The idea of the Greek present tense (
hamartanei in
1 John 5:18) which is being used is that those who are born again and have the Spirit of God in them cannot ever make peace with sin, settle in with sin, make sin a friend, be okay with sinning — just go on sinning as though no war needs to be made against it, and nothing will come of it if we do. The present tense says: no, you can’t do that, you can’t make a practice of sinning like that.
What do you call the bad things that you do? It's a little more than recognizing a beautiful woman it's lusting after her in your heart. You know intently checking around I wouldn't suggest doing it in front of your wife cuz I guarantee you she will know exactly what you're doing.
I'm not talking about driving habits either. I'm talking about calling someone an idiot or worse when they cut you off on the freeway. The bible says..... Then Jesus said, “
Whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell” (Matthew 5:22c). The English word “fool” comes from the Greek word “moros” from which we also get our word moron.
1 John 1:8-10 ESVIf we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
This verse offers John's third conditional ("if") statement in a row. There are five such "if" statements in this passage. First, he refers to those who claim fellowship with Christ while living in sin (
1 John 1:6). Second, John addresses those who truly live according to Christ's commands (
1 John 1:7). Here, in verse 8, John refers to those who claim to have no sin whatsoever.
John's pattern of alternating positive and negative "if" statements clues the reader in to upcoming ideas. Here, it sets up the reader to expect a negative "if" statement. Saying we have no sin is considered negative and simply impossible—only God is completely without sin (
Hebrews 4:15). So, anyone who claims to be without sin is self-deceived.
John teaches that those who claim to be without sin do not have the truth in them. This lack of truth applies to the saved believer who claims to have been freed from all sin in their present life. A believer should recognize his or her sinfulness and need of forgiveness through Christ. Even the most devout, clean-living Christian still contends with sin, in some way, shape, or form. Forgetting that we have sin makes us insensitive to things we ought to confess to God. As stated in verse 7, we don't lose hope, but we trust in Christ to forgive us.
While it's not necessary to have perfect knowledge in order to be saved—justified before God—a core aspect of the gospel is a recognition of our sin. Therefore, anyone who claims to have
never sinned is denying the gospel. By definition, such a person is an unbeliever. And, any believer who concludes that they
no longer sin needs to be corrected.
Note, also, that verses 8, 9, and 10 cover past, present, and future sins. Believers still have the choice of whether or not to submit to Christ at any given time. If this was not possible, the Bible would not warn Christians so often about the consequences of sin. Even the believer is still fallible.
