You have it a little backwards here. 1 John 1 comes before 1 John 3, which means John intended his readers to read that first.
So, when you put 1 John 3 in the context of 1 John 1, which says that "if we save we have no sin we deceive ourselves..." and "if we say we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His word is not in us..." and "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness..." You can easily see, as most people do, that this is talking about people who continue to live in sin. That's what "continue sinning" means.
In fact, if you just put the verses that you continue to quote in the context in which they were written, this becomes even more self-explanatory:
John starts his epistle (in 1 John 1) by making sure that his readers understand that to say that you never sin is nothing more than self-deception and lies. He then goes on in 1 John 3, confident that they already understand the error of claiming to be sinless, to explain to them that anybody who practices sin is not born of God.
Perhaps this example will help to clarify what this means.
I know a man who, as a believer, stumbled into the sexual sin of inappropriate contentography. After a period of struggle, he confessed his sin to God, and no longer continues in that sin.
However, I also know another man who, as a believer (or at least churchgoer who says he knows Jesus), is on his 3rd sexual partner in the last 2 years, gets paid "under the table" to avoid taxes for various tasks, and regularly engages in things like inappropriate contentography. He is unashamed of this, and doesn't believe there is a biblical problem with the way he is living.
The first is somebody who sinned, repented, and was restored. The second is somebody who continues to practice sin.
As the Holy Spirit changes us, we must decrease and Christ must increase (as the apostle Paul says), but that doesn't mean that we never fail.
That is also (clearly) what James is saying. He just said that "nobody" is able to control their tongue perfectly. And that "Everyone" (since you seem to prefer this to "we all" - it's still inclusive) stumbles at various times. Therefore, when he says that anybody who is able to control his tongue is a perfect man, he is reiterating that nobody is able to control their tongue perfectly.
There is also instruction in the letter to the Corinthians for disciplining and restoring a brother who was sinning. And Paul talks about his own struggle with sin in Romans, as has been shown.
If sin were allowable, there would be no point in trying to live holy lives, as anyone would be able to sin and keep asking God for forgiveness. I suggest you read this,
One of the major deceptions present in this time is that you can continue sinning and that somehow God will forgive you each time. I hear it time and time again, we are fallen, that's why we sin, and there is grace for that. While there is indeed favor, this is not a license to sin. First and foremost, before jumping into the ability to stop sinning, I must first discuss what the power of the spirit really does. Throughout scripture we see evidence that receiving the spirit is not just some sort of figurative event that occurs, as most perceive it to be, it happens with real physical manifestations and signs of having received it. In one occurence we see written,
And spirit of the LORD shall spring upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and you shall turn into another man. (1 Samuel 10:6 [ABP])
This scripture was talking about Saul. Notice how the scripture says, and "
you shall turn into another man". It is talking about an inward mental change, a literal change and rewiring of his mind to become someone else. How did this happen? As a consequence of the spirit springing upon him. The mental change is literally a possession of the mind, but not by an evil force, but by the spirit of God. And what also happened? He began prophesying, and this was an outward sign. It was so evident what had just happened that look further at what is written,
And came to pass all the things being made known to him yesterday and the third day before. And behold, he was in the midst of the prophets prophesying. And the people each said to his neighbor, What is this, the thing having happened to the son of Kish? Or is also Saul among the prophets? (1 Samuel 10:11 [ABP])
In a more modern way of translating, they were practically saying, "what happened here, is Saul, the son of Kish, now a prophet?". They were in shock.
In further reading, we have a prophecy in Ezekiel stating how God would cause his people to follow him and keep his commandments,
[26] And I will put in you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you, and I will remove the stone heart from your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit in you, and I shall make it that you shall go by my ordiances, and you shall keep my judgments, and you shall observe them.(Ezekiel 36:26-27 [ABP])
The first thing to note here is God putting a new heart in you. Heart is synonymous with the mind, but more specifically where the
desires are. We see another usage here of the word "heart",
May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! (Psalm 20:4)
The heart is also where desires and intentions lie, as is the usage in many other passages. So what does he also do? He puts in a
new spirit in you. And what else? A new heart, meaning,
a new mind and
new desires. This prophecy is also indicating that it will be dispensed differently than it was before, yet even in the way it was dispensed before, we saw indications of how powerful it was to
change the mind of a person. What will this
new spirit cause a man to do? It will cause him to "go by my ordinances and you shall keep my judgments, and you shall observe them." Meaning
you will obey God. Why is it different now than before? Because of the
blood of Jesus Christ has now been shed, and so now this
new spirit operates in the
power of that blood of Jesus Christ,
causing you to change have a different mind and also desires, whereas before it didn't to those that had holy spirit and still sinned, because the blood of the true lamb of God hadn't been shed yet, and the blood of animals was never able to cause a man to stop sinning, yet was only able to atone for sins. This prophecy is now fulfilled in these days by the outpouring of the holy spirit as a result of the shedding of the blood of the true lamb of God.
The new spirit that is given now imparts the ability to sin no more. Why? Because the blood of Jesus has now been poured. His blood, which is higher than the blood of animals, is indeed able to cause a man to stop sinning through the power of holy spirit, whereas before, the blood of animals was never able to change the heart (mind and desires), as it is written,
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of he-goats to remove sins. (Hebrews 10:4 [ABP])
This is why it is a
new spirit, since it now
causes you to change your mind and desires, and how it coincides with God saying, "I will give you a new heart of flesh". In this passage we also read, "I will remove the stone heart", what exactly does this mean? It means it will
remove your old fleshly mind which has evil desires (This is where Paul talks about the fleshly nature), which is also the root of sin, and give you a new heart, that desires to obey God and causes you to keep his commandments and
not sin anymore. Receiving holy spirit is in fact so powerful that it causes a man to now stop sinning and change removes evil desires, and thus this is why we read,
Anyone engendered of God, does not commit sin, for his seed abides in him; and he is not able to sin, because he has been engendered by God. (1 John 3:9 [ABP])
Why is he also not able to sin anymore? Because his desires have been changed by being possessed by God. This is one scripture that is ignored or twisted by many, because they don't understand how it is possible to stop sinning. They think they have received holy spirit figuratively, and while they are still aware of their own sinful desires, they cant comprehend how one can stop sinning while having this "figurative" spirit. It is not just a figurative thing, it is literal, and it comes with outward manifestations of it. It is
only possible by receiving this Spirit that you can stop sinning, that possesses you and causes you to follow after God, and changes your inner desires. Being born of God is receiving this Spirit. Going further, Paul also says that it is impossible for us to stop sinning, which is true because we are still in our fallen nature if we don't receive this holy spirit, which is why it is
necessary to receive holy spirit, so that through its power we may then finally be able to stop sinning, but not by our own power, but by the power of the spirit. Its not anything in our own nature, because our minds are fleshly and our desires are evil, but because of God putting his spirit in you and causing you to follow after him that you are then able to walk perfectly before him. If you could indeed keep sinning while having holy spirit, you would be breaking scripture that says that you cannot sin when being born of God. So therefore,
anyone that still sins does not truly have the spirit of God. Jesus even says,
You shall be then yourselves perfect, as your father, the one in the heavens is perfect. (Matthew 5:48 [ABP])
How can anyone be perfect and why would Jesus demand such a seemingly impossible thing? It's because perfection, that is, inward perfection, is imparted by holy spirit, which then makes inner perfection possible. Jesus also told the woman after he forgave her sins,
And she said, No one, O Lord. And Jesus said to her, Nor I condemn you; go and from now sin no more! (John 8:11 [ABP])
In Romans Paul goes on to eloquently explain this fallen nature that is in us before having the Spirit,
[15] For what I manufacture, I do not know; for not what I want to do, this I practice; and what I detest, this I do. [16] But if what I do not want to do, this I do, then I assent to the law that it is good. [17] But now, no longer I manufacture it, but it is the sin living in me. [18] For I know that there does not live in me (that is to say in my flesh) good. For the will is present with me, but the manufacturing the good I do not find. [19] For I do not do the good which I want to do, but the evil which I do not want to do, this I do. [20] But if what I do not want to do, this I do; no longer I manufacture it, but it is sin living in me. [21] I find then the law, in the one wanting in me to do the good, that with me the evil is present. [22] For I delight in the law of God according to the inside man. [23] But I see another law in my members, undertaking an expedition against the law of my mind, and captivating me to the law of the sin, to the one being in my members. [24] O miserable man am I. Who shall rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:15-24 [ABP])
We are born in sin even before we commit any sins, this is our fallen nature, that nature of our minds, and nothing that is within us is able to follow after God. As it is even written,
Sinners were separated from the womb; they wander from the belly; they spoke lies. (Psalms 58:3 [ABP])
Notice how they were called sinners even from the womb, before they were even able to commit sins. Its imputed on us already before birth. Paul even says,
for all sinned and lack the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 [ABP])
Even in 1 John we read,
If we should say that we do not have sin, we mislead ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 [ABP])
This doesn't mean that we continue to sin, because in the verses before, it said no one that is born of God sins. What it means is that we have all sinned in the past. Only Jesus Christ did not sin, ever. So what does Paul go on to say after explaining this very evil nature that has befallen all of man, including himself, which is why he calls himself "wretched man"? He says,
[1] In nothing then is there now condemnation to the ones in Christ Jesus, not walking according to flesh, but according to spirit. [2] For the law of the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of the sin and of death.
(Romans 8:1-2 [ABP])
Did you catch that? The ones in Christ Jesus, "not walking according to the flesh, but according to the spirit", or more clearly explained,
not walking according to the flesh anymore, but now presently walking according to the spirit. What this really means is this, at one point I did walk in the flesh, but now I walk in the Spirit. How? By
having the spirit. You can't
both walk in the flesh and in the Spirit at the same time. You can only walk in one or the other. And also meaning,
before I had the fleshly nature, but now that I have the
spirit, I have been
freed from the fleshly nature. Look what Paul then says, "the law of the spirit of the life in Christ Jesus freed me". Paul is in fact affirming that he has now been freed from sin and from his very fleshly nature.
Because of the spirit. He affirms this again,
that the ordinance of the law should be fulfilled in us, to the ones not walking according to flesh, but according to spirit. (Romans 8:4 [ABP])
He is in fact affirming that
he is not walking after the flesh anymore, not now presently only walking after the spirit. Again, Paul makes
another affirmation about this,
But you are not in flesh, but in spirit, if indeed spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, this one is not of him. (Romans 8:9 [ABP])
Again, you are not in the flesh anymore, but now in spirit, and what does he say after?
If indeed the spirit of God lives in you. You can only be
set free by your sinful nature and desires and
not walk in the flesh anymore only if you have the spirit of God in you. How much more clear can Paul be? Yet many still misunderstand out of ignorance and justify their own continuance of committing sins. They falsely think you can walk in the flesh and in the spirit at the same time. Not according to Paul. Paul further says,
For as many as are led in spirit of God, these are sons of God.(Romans 8:14 [ABP])
Whoever has received the spirit of God is a son of God, being
born of God, who can no longer sin. This coincides with other previous scriptures. Do we have other scriptures indicating that a person can stop sinning? Yes, look at this prophecy in Daniel concerning Jesus,
Seventy periods of seven were rendered concise upon your people, and upon the holy city, to finish off sin, and to set a seal upon sins, and to wipe out the lawless deeds, and to atone for iniquities, and to bring eternal righteousness, and to set a seal upon vision and prophecy, and to anoint the holy of holies. (Daniel 9:24 [ABP])
This scripture is often misinterpreted and many believe the false teaching of a "7 year tribulation" as the final week in this prophecy because they don't understand how sin could've been "finished off" knowing themselves that they still continue sinning. Well, sin is "finished off" because of the power the holy spirit gives to cause a person to stop sinning. This prophecy was already fulfilled after the death of Jesus Christ, ending the 70 weeks prophecy. It didn't just stop, then resume in the future over 2,000 years later as many falsely believe. The 70 weeks were sequential years and it was completed with the death of Jesus Christ and the Pentecost that brought in the Holy Spirit giving the
inner perfection and
finishing off of sins. Even in Hebrews we have another affirmations concerning perfection and those that are sanctified by holy spirit,
For by one offering he has perfected in perpetuity the ones having been sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 [ABP])
So what about grace, or rather, favor? I prefer the use of the word favor because it more accurately conveys in English what is meant by the word grace, in that he chooses to show mercy and compassion, while we don't deserve it, and he doesn't really have to do it, he just merely shows it because he chooses to show his kindness. God does whatever he pleases. This is his creation and his work, and we are creatures made by him, created as sinners. He does whatever he wants with us. The favor of God is bestowed upon us in that while being in our fallen nature not deserving his mercy, he still chose to be merciful with us, forgive our previous sin, and bestow upon us the gift of his spirit, to be sons of the living God empowered to stop sinning because of his spirit. This is where the favor of God demonstrated. As Paul even says,
So then it is not of the one wanting, nor of the one running, but of the showing mercy of God. (Romans 9:16 [ABP])
And he also says,
For to Moses he says, I will show mercy on whom ever I should show mercy, and I shall pity whom ever I should pity. (Romans 9:15 [ABP])
Therefore, it is God who shows the mercy, to whomever he pleases. It is nothing that we have done, it is merely his favor, and in fact, his choosing, that you anyone receives the gift of holy spirit.
Moving on to a different topic related to this, some might say, well wasn't Peter sinning in reference to the circumcision when Paul confronted him? The answer is no. It was because Peter was acting on his portion of faith, or rather belief. Everyone has a different portion of belief, some greater than others.
For I say by the favor being given to me, to every one being among you, to not be high-minded above what you must think; but to think to be of a sound mind; to each as God portioned a measure of belief. (Romans 12:3 [ABP])
God has indeed appointed each to have a measure of belief. In this matter, Peter's belief was lesser in this matter, yet he did not commit sin, because he acted in his own portion of belief. Just because the spirit has been imparted on you doesn't mean you all of a sudden have all knowledge of everything. It just means that you are now able to be clear of evil desires inwardly and walk after God in a straight path, and have a divine guidance that will give you knowledge on new things as he reveals them to you. God does not reveal all knowledge just at once, but instead, reveals little by little, and to each person reveal different things, mainly that we should remain humble in the present time not knowing absolutely everything, and that we should each have a different measure of belief. Paul even writes,
But grow in the favor and knowledge of our Lord and deliverer Jesus Christ! To him be the glory both now and into the day of the eon. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 [ABP])
Grow in knowledge is what Paul says. What need would there to Grow in knowledge if holy spirit imparted full knowledge of everything? So no, holy spirit doesn't impart full knowledge, yet he does guide in all things as time goes on.
The humility of believers in the present time is what God desires, this is evident in that even in Paul himself knowing so much, God even kept him humble by giving him a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble.
And so that I should not be elevated over the excess of the revelations, there was given to me a barb in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he should buffet me, that I should not be elevated. (2 Corinthians 12:7 [ABP])
So back to my original point, Peter in no way was sinning, he was merely acting on his portion of belief and knowledge he had.
Going further, there is a passage in 1 Timothy concerning those who still sin in the church,
[19] Do not welcome from outside a charge against an elder, unless by two or three witnesses! [20] The ones sinning reprove before all, that also the rest should have fear! (1 Timothy 5:19-20 [ABP])
This scripture is not talking about believers that have the spirit, its talking about new believers that come into the church that don't yet have the spirit, who can still sin, whether young or older (an "elder"). What does it say? If they should sin, reprove them, or in other ways, rebuke them, so that everyone else might be afraid. And if they are older (an "elder"), entertain an accusation in the witness of two or three, meaning don't just believe that someone older is sinning by the word of one, but have multiple witnesses concerning it. Older men have a special significance in scripture, and to Paul, are worthy of double honor,
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17)
And also, jumping to another scripture, we have an example of the seriousness of having the spirit,
[4] For it is impossible of the ones once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and becoming partakers of holy spirit, [5] and having tasted the good word of God, and of powers of the eon about to be, [6] and having fallen, again to renew to repentance; crucifying again to themselves the son of God, and making an example of him. (Hebrews 6:4-6 [ABP])
It's impossible that once you have the holy spirit, that if you were to lose it, to ever get it back. Paul indicates the seriousness of this. Is it even possible to lose the Holy Spirit? No, because you are sealed when you receive it, therefore losing it is impossible, because as scripture says,
those who are born of God cannot sin. Paul even makes mention of being sealed with holy spirit,
In whom also you, having heard the word of the truth the good news of your deliverance -- in whom also having trusted, you were sealed by the spirit of the promise in the holy; (Ephesians 1:13 [ABP])
When once receives holy spirit, one becomes the temple of the God, as it it said here,
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own? (I Corinthians 6:19 [ABP])
Which there, Paul even states if in having it the scenario arose that you did fall away, it would be
impossible for you to ever get come to repentance, yet this is even impossibly to happen, because in 1 John read read that it is impossible for anyone born of God to sin. This saying Paul said is like saying, if Jesus had sinned, it would be impossible for him to come back in favor with God. The whole scenario is just impossible to begin with.
Going further, what about temptation? We have the following scripture referencing temptation,
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. (James 1:14)
Does this mean everyone that has ever been tempted was done so because they had an evil desire? No. Look at Jesus, he himself was also tempted 3 times. And he had no sin nor evil desires. There are two types of temptations, one of which you are tempted when you have an evil desire, and then another when you are tempted already having holy spirit, to
test you. The temptation of ones having holy spirit is necessary
to test to fulfill scripture, and just as Jesus was
tested, so are his flock. So its actually not a "tempation" as it is when it occurs when being lured by an evil desire, but it is rather a "test". As Paul even says,
A test has not taken you except what belongs to a human; but God is trustworthy, who will not allow you to be tested above what you are able; but will make with the test also the way out, for you to be able to endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13 [ABP])
God makes it so that those that have the Spirit will
endure the testing, that is, the temptation, just as Jesus endured the
testing. Again, this coincides with scripture, he who has the holy spirit cannot sin. They are indeed tested, but they
always endure.
Going back to the outward manifestations of having the spirit, here are a few other occurrences in newer times after the death of Jesus Christ,
And they were filled all together of holy spirit, and they began to speak with other languages, as the spirit gave to them to be declared. (Acts 2:4 [ABP])
And also,
And Paul having put hands upon them, the holy spirit came upon them, both speaking languages and prophesying. (Acts 19:6 [ABP])
But you shall receive power of the holy spirit coming upon you. And you will be to me witnesses in both Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8 [ABP])
Notice that this scripture says
power. It is real power. Paul warned of a time when men would deny the power of the holy spirit,
having the appearance of piety, but denying its power. Even these turn away from! (2 Timothy 3:5 [ABP])
Who's power? The Spirit's power.
Finally, concluding this subject, it is pretty evident what the power of the Spirit does. It changes your mind literally to cause you not to sin anymore. It also comes with outward physical manifestations when you receive it. I can dig deeper on this topic, but I felt it necessary to cover the most essential part of having the Spirit, and it is not the outer miracles and signs that are evident when you receive it, but rather, causing you to stop sinning by removing your fleshly inner nature, which
operates now under the blood of Jesus Christ.