“commits not sin…and he cannot sin”: αμαρτια ου ποιει καιου
δυναται αμαρτανειν, John using the present indicative as he did in vr. 6,
which means: “he does not continue to commit sin…and he cannot continue to
sin.” In both phrases he uses the anarthrous αμαρτια and αμαρτανειν (which is
intensified by the infinitive) thereby pointing out the abiding essence of sin,
which is to engulf one in its tentacles so there is no apparent escape and thus
he continues to sin. As such, the Christian is not trapped if and when he sins,
since he seeks for immediate forgiveness and remedy to the situation. He seeks
this immediate remedy because he is γενεννημενος εκ του θεου (“born of God”)
and οτι σπερμα αυτου εν αυτω μενει (“for his seed abides in him”). Both his
Baptism (Jn 3:5-8) and his Confirmation (1Jn 2:20) make him born of God and
allow his “seed” to remain in him, and if he should sin, his Confession (Jn
20:23) cleanses his soul of sin. Those who do not do these things cannot be of
God, John again making this point black and white with no shades of gray in vr.
10: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.”
One is either of God or of the devil. There is no in-between state of
neutrality. (Robert A. Sungenis, The Epistles of St. John and St. Jude:
Exegetical Commentary [Catholic Apologetics Study Bible 11; State Line,
Pa.: Catholic Apologetics International Publishing, Inc., 2020], 26 ν. 49)
