That results in the ultimate point I have the desire to make: We can see evidence for the validity of salvation in our desire to conduct ourselves in a way that pleases God. According to 1 John 3:9, “Whoever has been born of God doesn’t sin, for His seed stays in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”
If we’re not careful, we would interpret this verse to show that anyone who’s born of God never sins. That would conflict with other passages within the Bible that describe us as fallible and sometimes failing.
In 1 John 3:9, the word for sin is a gift lively infinitive and it describes a continuous motion. John will not be saying that whoever sins once will not be born of God. That would disqualify all of us. It would definitely disqualify me. But John is saying, in effect, “Whoever keeps on willfully sinning, violating God’s law with stubborn disregard and ongoing wickedness, cannot have assurance of salvation.”
If we’re truly saved, we are going to grieve over our sins, confess them, and seek God’s grace to do higher.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/digitalskillet
Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christianity-qa/5-birthmarks-of-the-born-again-christian.html
