1 John 3 - 5

Whoever has the Son, has Life

John continues the themes of love, life, and truth through the end of this epistle.  In chapter 3 he explains how a Christian does not sin.  This thought may seem contrary to the human mind since we are assailed by sin daily, even hourly, but John explains in 3:2, "we are already God's children..." and thus have been empowered by His Holy Spirit.  If we continue in sin, then we show that we are not His child (3:4) but Jesus came to take away our sins.  "Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin." (3:6).

The verse just quoted may sound like it is in direct contradiction to 1:8, "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." but it is not.  We have sin and we have sinned, but for those who are in Christ, we have had our sins removed. He (God) no longer holds them against us or even remembers them.  God sees the perfect sacrifice of Christ and thus does not see our sin. If we abide in Him, then we cannot sin.