Wrong. You are using ESV which is corrupted. KJV literally says "Can't sin" not continue in sin... See how these corrupted versions twist things around? KJV is saying you CAN'T sin, your new spirit is sinless, it can't sin. That's what lives on for eternity.well let's take a look at that.
first let's back up to verse 7:
1 John 3:7(NKJV)
7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
so if you practice something it becomes your habit to do as you practice, and so in verse 8, john is also saying that if you practice sinning then that's what you're really all about.
so how does one practice righteousness?
1 John 2:4-6(NKJV)
4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
we practice righteousness by keeping the commandments! (see psalms 119:172)
remember, in exodus 16:4, God said of the COI "that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not"
1 John 1:6-7(NKJV)
6If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness (practice sinning), we lie and do not practice the truth.
7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light (practice righteousness), we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
john is making a distinction between the children of God and the children of satan in how they live their lives.
in verse 9, using nkjv and kjv:
1 John 3:9(NKJV)
9Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
1 John 3:9(KJV)
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
the word "born" in this context would've been more properly translated "begotten", which would better make the distinction to which john was pointing.
the word "born" in the verse is from the greek "gennaō". in 1john 5:1, the word is used three times in the same sentence and it gets different translations in the kjv's versions.
here's how young's translated the verse:
1 John 3:9(YLT)
9every one who hath been begotten of God, sin he doth not, because his seed in him doth remain, and he is not able to sin, because of God he hath been begotten.
it's little better but they still say "he is not able to sin", which is misleading.
and here's esv's version:
1 John 3:9(ESV)
9No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
they get the sentiment right, but use "born" rather than "begotten", which would translate the verse correctly.
No one begotten of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been begotten of God.
not that he "cannot" sin or is "no able to", but rather cannot keep sinning.
john simply lets us know the difference between those of us who are practicing righteousness and the ones who are practicing sinning.
"and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
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