Episode Details

(Photo by Piotr Musioł 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 83, we are going to study 1 John 3:5.

Let’s read the verse.

1 John 3:5 But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Let’s go over the definitions of the words.

But (2532. kai) — means in contrast to what was stated in the previous verse.

You know (1492. eidó) — means you clearly see or are aware of a truth you already understand.

That Christ (3754. hoti) (1565. ekeinos) — points specifically to Christ as the focus of this truth.

Appeared (5319. phaneroó) — means was revealed or made visible.

To take away (142. airó) — means to remove or carry away, pointing to the decisive removal of sin.

Sins (266. hamartia) — means offenses against God or falling short of His law.

In Him (1722. en) (846. autos) — means in Christ Himself.

There is no sin (1510. eimi) (3756. ou, ouk, ouch) (266. hamartia) — means sin is completely absent in Him.

In other words, you are clearly aware that Christ was revealed to decisively remove the offenses or sins committed against God’s law, and in Christ, sin does not exist or is completely absent.

This stands in contrast to 1 John 3:4 (See Lesson 82), which teaches that everyone who practices sin lives in lawlessness. Sin is rebellion against God’s law.

When Jesus appeared, He had a clear mission. He came to take away sins. Through His work, the penalty of sin is removed, and its power is broken.

Because of Jesus, we are no longer slaves to sin. When someone is under the power of sin, it becomes the pattern of their life. But since Jesus breaks that power, His followers can live differently.

This does not mean believers never struggle with sin. But it does mean sin is no longer their way of life. As believers abide in Christ (See Lesson 67), they grow in obedience and turn away from sin.

When a person’s life is marked by ongoing, unrepentant sin, it shows they do not truly know Jesus.

The reason Jesus can take away sins is because He is completely sinless. There is no sin in His nature or His actions. Only a sinless Savior is able to remove sin and reconcile us to God.

There is a clear contrast between our ongoing battle with sin and Christ’s perfect holiness. Even though we are forgiven, we still fight against sin. At the same time, we are no longer under its power and are calle