1 John 3:5

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

And {G2532} ye know {G1492} that {G3754} he {G1565} was manifested {G5319} to {G2443} take away {G142} our {G2257} sins {G266}; and {G2532} in {G1722} him {G846} is {G2076} no {G3756} sin {G266}.

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and that there is no sin in him.

But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.

And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin.

1 John 3:5 presents a foundational truth of Christian doctrine, succinctly stating the primary purpose of Jesus Christ's earthly manifestation and His perfect nature. It serves as a bedrock for understanding both salvation and the call to righteous living for believers.

Context

This verse is situated within a crucial section of John's first epistle, where the apostle contrasts the children of God with the children of the devil. In 1 John 3:4, John defines sin as "lawlessness." Immediately following, verse 5 explains why true believers should not continue in sin: because Christ, who is sinless, came specifically to deal with sin. The phrase "And ye know" suggests this was a well-understood and accepted truth among the early Christian community, highlighting its centrality to their faith. This understanding sets the stage for the subsequent exhortation in 1 John 3:6, where John asserts that "whosoever abideth in him sinneth not."

Key Themes

  • The Purpose of Christ's Incarnation: The verse clearly states that Jesus Christ "was manifested to take away our sins." His coming was not merely to teach or to set an example, but to provide the means for humanity's reconciliation with God through the atonement for sin. This highlights the sacrificial nature of His mission.
  • Atonement and Redemption: The phrase "to take away our sins" speaks directly to the work of redemption and forgiveness. It implies the removal of the guilt, penalty, and ultimately the power of sin in the lives of those who believe. This is the core of the Gospel message.
  • Christ's Sinlessness: The declaration "and in him is no sin" is paramount. For Christ to be an effective sacrifice for the sins of humanity, He Himself had to be utterly without sin. This perfect, unblemished nature is essential to His role as the spotless Lamb of God, as foreshadowed in the Old Testament sacrificial system (Leviticus 1:3). His moral purity validated His atoning work.

Linguistic Insights

  • The word "manifested" (Greek: phaneroō) means to be made visible, to appear, or to reveal. It emphasizes the physical, historical reality of Jesus' incarnation – God becoming flesh and dwelling among us.
  • "To take away" (Greek: airō) can mean to lift up, bear away, or remove. In this context, it signifies the comprehensive removal of sin's burden and consequences. This aligns with the imagery of John the Baptist's declaration: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world".

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 John 3:5 offers profound assurance and a clear call to action:

  • Assurance of Forgiveness: Knowing that Christ came specifically to take away our sins provides immense comfort and certainty of God's forgiveness for those who trust in Him.
  • Motivation for Holy Living: The sinless nature of Christ, combined with His purpose to remove sin, serves as a powerful motivator for Christians to pursue holiness and to live in a manner consistent with their new identity in Him. If He took away our sins, we should not willingly return to them. This points towards the process of sanctification.
  • Understanding God's Justice and Love: The verse beautifully encapsulates both God's righteous demand for sin to be dealt with and His boundless love in providing the perfect solution through His Son.

Therefore, 1 John 3:5 reinforces the core message of the Gospel: Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, came into the world to atone for humanity's sins, offering redemption and a path to righteous living for all who believe.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Hebrews 9:28

    So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

  • 1 Peter 3:18

    ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

  • Hebrews 9:26

    For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

  • John 1:29

    ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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