Verse 4
"In the preceding section John has been stressing the importance of continuing in Christ, doing what is right, and purifying oneself in anticipation of his coming. Now he deals more closely with the negative side of all this, the need for believers to abstain from sin and the possibility of their doing so." [Note: Marshall, p. 175.]
"The present vv, 1 John 3:4-9, form six strophes, each of which divides . . . roughly into half. The two halves of the strophes balance one another; for the second part of the v provides a development of the first part (1 John 3:4-5; 1 John 3:7), or a parallel (1 John 3:6; 1 John 3:9) or a contrast (1 John 3:8) to it." [Note: Smalley, p. 152.]
Sin stands in opposition to purity. Furthermore sin is very serious. The use of the Greek word translated "lawlessness" (anosmia) carries a connotation of wickedness (cf. Matthew 7:23; Matthew 13:41; Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:7). It means rejection of law in its broadest concept, flagrant opposition to God, rather than just breaking specific laws. Evidently the false teachers had a soft view of sin (cf. 1 John 3:7-8).
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