1 John 3:6

6 Anyone who is in him does no sin; anyone who is a sinner has not seen him and has no knowledge of him.

1 John 3:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 3:6

Whosoever abideth in him
As the branch in the vine, deriving all light, life, grace, holiness, wisdom, strength, joy, peace, and comfort from Christ; or dwells in him by faith, enjoys communion with him as a fruit of union to him; and stands fast in him, being rooted and grounded in him, and abides by him, his truths and ordinances, takes up his rest, and places his security in him, and perseveres through him:

sinneth not;
not that he has no sin in him, or lives without sin, but he does not live in sin, nor give up himself to a vicious course of life; for this would be inconsistent with his dwelling in Christ, and enjoying communion with him:

whosoever sinneth;
which is not to be understood of a single action, but of a course of sinning:

hath not seen him, neither known him;
that is, he has never seen Christ with an eye of faith; he has never truly and spiritually seen the glory, beauty, fulness, and suitableness of Christ, his need, and the worth of him; he has never seen him so as to enjoy him, and have communion with him; for what communion hath Christ with Belial, or light with darkness, or righteousness with unrighteousness? ( 2 Corinthians 6:14 2 Corinthians 6:15 ) , nor has he ever savingly known him, or been experimentally acquainted with him; for though he may profess to know him in words, he denies him in works.

1 John 3:6 In-Context

4 Everyone who is a sinner goes against the law, for sin is going against the law.

5 And you have knowledge that he came to take away sin: and in him there is no sin.

6 Anyone who is in him does no sin; anyone who is a sinner has not seen him and has no knowledge of him.

7 My little children, let no man take you out of the true way: he who does righteousness is upright, even as he is upright;

8 The sinner is a child of the Evil One; for the Evil One has been a sinner from the first. And the Son of God was seen on earth so that he might put an end to the works of the Evil One.