Understanding 1 John 5:18 in Context of Sin and Salvation
As we delve into the richness of 1 John 5:18, we find the apostle John declaring, "We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him." This verse is often misunderstood, leading some to conclude that a true believer will never sin again. However, this interpretation is not only unbiblical, but it also contradicts the very same epistle, which acknowledges that "if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).
Instead, John is emphasizing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, where the dominion of sin is broken, and the believer is empowered to live a life of obedience to God. The phrase "does not keep on sinning" suggests a habitual or willful practice of sin, which is inconsistent with the new nature of a child of God. As Paul writes in Romans 6:14, "For sin will not have dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." The believer is not exempt from sinning, but they are no longer slaves to sin, and when they do sin, they can confidently come to God, knowing that "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
The latter part of the verse, "but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him," reassures us of the Father's loving care and protection over His children. As Jesus Himself prayed, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one" (John 17:15). This protection is not a guarantee of physical safety or immunity from trials, but a spiritual safeguarding, where the believer is kept from the evil one's ability to destroy their faith or separate them from the love of God. In this sense, the believer can have confidence in their salvation, knowing that they are secure in God's hands, and that nothing can "separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).