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(Photo by Damian Markutt on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)

Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.

In Lesson 82, we are going to study 1 John 3:4.

Let’s read the verse.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.

Let’s go over the definitions of the words.

Everyone (3956. pas) — means all or every single one. It shows that no one is excluded.

Who (3588. ho, hé, to) — means the person who is described by what comes next.

Practices (4160. poieó) — means to do, make, or carry out. In this verse it describes someone who continually does something. It points to a habit or pattern of life, not just a single act.

Sin (266. hamartia) — means missing the mark or falling short of God’s perfect standard.

Practices (4160. poieó) — again emphasizes ongoing, habitual action. The repetition shows that both sin and lawlessness are actively and continually practiced.

Lawlessness (458. anomia) as well (2532. kai) — means living as if God’s law does not matter. It describes a rebellious disregard for God’s authority and His commands.

Indeed (2532. kai) sin (266. hamartia) — again refers to missing the mark or failing to meet God’s standard.

Is (1510. eimi) lawlessness (458. anomia) — means that sin is lawlessness. In other words, sin is living in disregard of God’s law and rejecting His authority.

In other words, every single person who continually practices sin is living in rebellion against God, because ongoing sin is the practice of lawlessness and a rejection of His authority.

In previous lessons we studied that we are children of God, and that one day we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). When you have this hope in Jesus Christ, you will pursue purity, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).

1 John 3:4 shows us the opposite path. Instead of pursuing purity, the person who continually practices sin is pursuing lawlessness. It is living as though God’s law does not matter.

Rather than reflecting the character of Christ, this kind of life reflects ongoing rebellion against the Lawgiver Himself.

The word “practices” carries the idea of continual action. It describes an ongoing lifestyle. John is speaking about someone whose life is characterized by habitual sin.

This is not an occasional failure, but an unbroken cycle of rebellion. They are comfortable with sin. Their life reflects active defiance against God.

John’s point is clear. Being a child of God does not give someone permis