The following is not an attempt to track and categorize all of the concepts of “sin” in the book of 1 John. To do that one would need to look at walking in darkness, loving the world, not keeping commandments, not practicing righteousness, idolatry, etc. Rather, I simply want to highlight some of the various ways that John instructs us to think about what he explicitly calls “sin” (ἁμαρτ–).
Why is John writing this letter?
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin (2:1).
What is sin?
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness (3:4). All wrongdoing is sin (3:17a).
How do we escape God’s wrath for our sin?
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (2:2). In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (2:10).
What does Jesus’ blood do for our sin?
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1:7)
What if we do sin?
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (2:1)
What if we confess our sins?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1:9).
Why were our sins forgiven?
. . . your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake (2:12).
Why did Jesus come and what was his personal relationship to sin?
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin (3:5).
What if we say we have no sin or have not sinned?
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1:8). If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us (1:10).
What should we do when a brother commits a sin not leading to death?
There is sin that does not lead to death (5:17b). If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death (5:16a).
What about a sin that leads to death?
There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that (5:16b).
What is the relationship between abiding in Christ and unrepentant sin?
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (3:6)
What is the relationship between Satan and unrepentant sin?
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (3:8).
What is the relationship between regeneration and unrepentant sin?
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 (3:9). We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him (5:18).
