Page 56 - Bible Study Methods-Textbook_Neat

Notice that below the English words are some abbreviations. They tell you the information you are
looking for in showing you the use of tense, voice, or case of various words. The question is, how can a
person say He abides in Christ if he sins? So, we need to look at the information about the verb “sins.”
Notice under the word is the abbreviations, V-PIA-3S. What that stands for is V =(verb), P= (Present), I=
(Indicative), A = Active, then there is a dash, 3S = third person singular. So, what does all that mean?

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.

Now let’s contrast that with I John 2:1. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But
if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
Here it is in the interlinear translation:

55