I'll give it a try:
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
John 8:34
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
In both cases of "He that committeth sin" "committeth" is a present participle. Accordin to Dana and Matey A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament (section 196) participles are adjectival and often represent a state of being.
"Sin" has the definite article and is singular, which lends a difference to the meaning from being plural and anarthrous: the idea presumably is that this kind if sinning is sin as a way of life, a state of continuing sin.
This has two possibilities.
If I have an expired driver's license and a state trooper pulls me over and says "you cannot drive in the State of Washington without a valid license" doesn't necessarily mean that I am incapable of the act of driving a car. Obviously, he stopped me.
However I cannot drive the car without a consequence.
So, this may mean that I cannot (as a Christian) be in this condition without a consequence, presumably IMO, the sin unto death (my presumption) such perhaps as those in 1 Corinthians many of whom sinned and "slept".
Or, the other: no Christian can enter again into this condition, sins (plural) are possible, but "the sin" as a state of being cannot be, IOW, they were never regenerated in the first place.
However even the apostle John seems non-plused (or so it would appear) by those who seem to be in this condition yet were perhaps known as a brother in the past.
1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Personally I see truth in both concepts, a Christian may appear to enter into this condition as the Thyatirans who had been seduced by "Jezebel" and "committeth fornication" and consequently had a death sentence (physical) over their heads.
Revelation 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
"except they repent of their deeds."
It is God's perogative, only He knows the condition of the heart, whether a slave to sin and a pretender or a babe in Christ who has gone astray.
But to babes in Christ this kind of demanding of an "all or nothing" commitment may be too soon and they are unable to bear it and become prey to false teaching, cults, etc...
1 Corinthians 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
There needs to be a better balance:
True, the Father wants us not to sin, not even one sin...
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
There is the advocacy of Christ for the little children.
Many of those who have reached a measure of maturity have had a rocky road with several stumbles and wanderings (I am one of them with scars as a daily reminder).
I have been blessed by the Lord with several patient pastors/counselors who counseled me from the word of God or I would have "slept" (and nearly did on one occassion) or been "put on the shelf" a long time ago. On the other hand I have been to the woodshed many times as well.
Don't get me wrong I'm still a stubborn mule but have learned not to kick the staves.
2 Timothy 2
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
HankD
