Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 9. Doth not commit sin. That is, as long as he keepeth in himself this seed of grace, and this divine generation, by which he is born of God. But then he may fall from this happy state by the abuse of his free-will, as appears from Romans 11:20 21 22 1 Corinthians 9:27 and 10:12 Philippians 2:12 Revelation 3:11. Challoner.—He cannot sin, because he is born of God. The meaning of this can be no more, than that he cannot sin as long as the seed of grace remaineth in him, and as long as he is the adoptive son of God. But it is evident he may fall from this happy condition, and from the grace of God, otherwise Saint John would not so often in this epistle have exhorted them not to sin. Witham.