Page 107 - Doctrine and History of the Preservation of the Bible revised

It tells you that “sins” is a verb. It is in the present tense, which we learned earlier denotes a continuous
kind of action. So that means that the person sinning is continually sinning, or as we might say, “living in
a state of continuous sin.” The indicative mood means the person doing the sinning is in fact, doing so.
So, putting together the tense and mood of the verb, we can conclude that the person who is sinning is
one who has chosen to sin and pretty much sins all the time and continues to sin by choice. Does that
sound like a person who knows Christ? It’s a good test to be able to look at the fruit of a life and
determine if a person has any spiritual life whatsoever. Someone can say they are a Christian, but they
cannot live continuously in sin. Their life denies their claim.

The second verb is “sinning” and it is V-PPA-NMS but the important part is the center, PPA which means,
Present Participle Active which again means the person is sinning in the present continuous sense of the
word. Again, anyone who continuously walks in sin and does not seem to be convicted about it, this
verse is saying that that person does not abide in Christ.

This verse is not talking about a saved person who sins sometimes, but a person who lives and
continuously walks in sin apart from Christ. See how the use of the language can clear up a difficult
passage?

Perhaps you still are confused?

If a passage of Scripture still confuses you after seeking context and reading commentaries, ask a friend
or small group or perhaps your pastor to look at the verses with you. Share your struggles with it, pray
together for the Spirit’s clarity and help, and discuss it. In other words, challenge others to join you in
searching for the solution to a questionable of difficult passage.

Ultimately, the secret things belong to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29). We won’t be able to grasp
everything we read fully, nor will all our questions be answered. If we could wrap our minds around
God—all He is, all He’s planned, and all He’s said—He wouldn’t be worthy of our worship. His ways and
thoughts are infinitely higher than ours, and this is the way it should be (Isaiah 55:9)!

So, at the end of the day, when we can’t fully understand what we’re reading, we choose to trust the
One who speaks without error. We trust His invitation that when we seek Him with all our hearts, we
will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). We trust in Christ’s promise to give us the Helper, the Spirit of truth, who
will guide, counsel, and lead us into truth (John 15:26).

And the more we hunger to know Him more and treasure the infinite depths of His Word, the more we
will worship.

How to Study the Bible in Context!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-rDUoKmceg&t=24s

105