1 John 5:18 We know that everyone born from God does not sin, but the one born from God keeps him and the evil one cannot harm him.
Οἴδαμεν ὅτι πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει, ἀλλʼ ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τηρεῖ αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ πονηρὸς οὐχ ἅπτεται αὐτοῦ.
God’s presence in our lives should make a difference in how we live. God’s love gives us a new perspective about the people around us. No longer do we want to live for ourselves in ways that please ourselves and satisfy fleshly desires. God’s love begins to change our motives. We reject the darkness around us and desire to walk in the light of Christ. Sin becomes distasteful and unfulfilling. The verb tense for “does not sin” is present, implying continuous or habitual action. If we are open and obedient, the Holy Spirit will change our worldview, motives, and purpose from pleasing self to pleasing God.
The “one” born from God here refers to the Son, Jesus. As Jesus said in John 15, if we remain in him, he will remain in us. If we stay connected with Jesus, he can provide the power to overcome temptation and avoid sin. There is protection around us from the devil. The evil one cannot harm those who are in Christ. The devil can tempt us but we have the victory because “greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Believers should not say, “the devil made me do it.” The devil cannot make us do anything as long as we abide in Christ.
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