Question:
What does 1 John 3:6 mean? “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not.”

Answer:
The epistle of First John deals with absolutes. You either are saved or not saved. You either walk in darkness or walk in the light (1 John 1:6, 7). You either commit [practice as a way of life] sin or you do not (1 John 3:8).

The correct translation of 1 John 3:9 is: “Whoever has been begotten of God does not practice sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God” (JND). He has a nature, “seed” that cannot sin. The believer’s new, “divine” nature (2 Peter 1:4) cannot sin. But we also have an old nature that is capable of sinning. Peter had a new nature, but he denied Christ; but he realized and repented of his sin and did not continue in it. Judas continued in his sin even though Jesus gave him every opportunity to stop, because he did not have a new nature.