I John 3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Does John mean here that Christians never sin? That is what the preachers of legalism would tell you and with a voice of pride they would proclaim this fact with as they at the same time attempt to say, they have overcome sin and have become the perfect example of the perfect Christian, making a mockery of the truth. Paul also dissected these truths with great detail in his letters as well. But back to John, were John to have meant that no one who has accepted Christ as their Savior never sins; then what do we do with the following verses?
I John 1: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Speaking to believers he also said, I John 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
So what is John talking about when he says, he who sins does not know Christ? When you go back to the greek, it is clearer as the tense being used refers to remaining in sin. Christ overcame sin in the lives of those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and as His Sanctifying work continues in the believer we become more like Him. Our love for Him and His abiding love within us causes us to be discontent with sin and hate sin in our own lives. Out of love and respect we long to become more like Him, we battle against those desires by seeking Him, reading our scriptures and abiding in His presence so that we may be the conquerors of sin in our lives–only because He has won the battle already.
I John 5: 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Romans 6: 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
My only hope to overcome sin is by the Victorious work of Christ on the Cross, it is that hope which fills my heart as my greatest longing is to become more like Him who wooed me by His Amazing Love.