1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.”
Extended Explanation
In this verse, John is giving a clear and honest definition of what sin is. He doesn’t sugarcoat it or try to make it sound small. He says that when we sin, we are breaking God’s law. But even more than that, sin is described as lawlessness—which means living like there are no rules, no authority, no boundaries.
Sin isn’t just making a mistake; it’s a heart problem. It’s an attitude that says, “I don’t care what God says. I’ll do what I want.”
John wants believers to see sin for what it really is—rebellion against God, a refusal to live under His rule.
This matters because when we understand how serious sin is, we will better understand why we need Jesus.
Historical Context
John was writing to believers at a time when some false teachers were spreading dangerous ideas. One of the lies they were telling people was that sin didn’t really matter. They claimed you could know God and still live in sin without worrying about it.
John is pushing back hard against this. He wants believers to see that sin is serious. It’s not a small thing or something we can shrug off. In the world of the first century, many people lived by their own rules. John is reminding the church that God’s ways are not optional suggestions—they are commands.
Theological Implications
This verse shows us that sin is not just about bad behavior—it’s about breaking God’s law.
It is a personal offense against the One who created us.
Sin isn’t accidental; it is willful and deliberate, rooted in a heart that wants to live apart from God’s rule.
The verse also teaches that there’s no such thing as neutral ground. You are either living under God’s authority or you are living in lawlessness.
Literary Analysis
John uses simple, direct words in this verse.
He begins with “Everyone”—meaning this applies to all people, not just a certain group.
He uses the word “sin” and pairs it with “lawlessness” to make the point crystal clear.
There’s no middle ground in John’s language. Sin is not a small misstep—it is breaking the law.
This is part of a larger pattern in 1 John where he draws sharp contrasts: light and darkness, truth and lies, love and hate, righteousness and lawlessness.
Relevant Biblical Cross-References
- Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- James 2:10 – “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
- Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way.”
- Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For today’s believer, this verse is a wake-up call.
The world often tries to downplay sin or redefine it as “personal choice,” “freedom,” or “being true to yourself.” But God’s Word is clear—sin is breaking His law.
This verse challenges you not to treat sin lightly or make excuses for it.
It invites you to take sin seriously because it separates you from God and damages your relationship with Him.
But it also reminds you why Jesus came—to deal with sin and bring you back to God.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
At first glance, a verse like this might sound harsh. But it actually shows the love of God.
Why? Because God tells us the truth. He doesn’t pretend sin is harmless. He tells us how serious it is because He loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves.
God’s love doesn’t ignore sin—it confronts it, deals with it, and offers a way out through Jesus.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse sets the stage for understanding why Jesus had to come.
If sin is lawlessness—rebellion against God—then we all stand guilty.
But Jesus came to deal with that guilt.
1 John 3:5 (the next verse) says, “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.“
Jesus lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15) and took the punishment we deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we could be forgiven and restored.
Without understanding how serious sin is, we will never fully appreciate how amazing God’s grace is.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- How do you personally define sin? How does John’s definition challenge you?
- Are there ways you’ve been tempted to treat sin lightly or make excuses for it?
- What areas of your life do you need to bring back under God’s authority?
- How does understanding the seriousness of sin make you more thankful for Jesus?
- How can you lovingly help others understand what sin really is without sounding judgmental?